The Legacy of Kilkenny (28 page)

“It’s your lucky day Abe, I’m here just to see you.
 
Well, Bryon too.
 
Your dad is out back huh?”
 
He grabs one of the trays of burgers and helps me carry them outside.

I grab a Frisbee and toss it to Bryon, he tosses it to Oakley and we play until the burgers are ready.
 
My dad drinks a couple beers and joins in.
 
As the sun starts to set, the mosquitoes come out trying to kill us with their relentless blood sucking bites.
 
“Hey, I’m ready to go in, I’m getting ATE UP!”
 
I said as I slapped at my ankle.

 
“Dad, is it okay with you for Bryon and I to head over to the Phelan farm?
 
Before you say it, I know, I have school tomorrow.”
 

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they get back in time.”
 
Oakley said.

“Yeah, but guys, don’t make me regret letting you go out on a school night.
 
Don’t be late.”
 
He buddy hugged me and for a brief moment I felt a strange vibration of power go through my body, it made me shiver.
  
I didn’t say anything to the guys, to me it felt secretive.
 
We climb into my car, Bryon scampering to get in the back seat; sitting sideways to have more room for his legs.
 
I crank up the stereo for our drive to Choctaw.
 
Oakley rolls his eyes at me as Lady
GaGa
assaults our eardrums claiming she was born that way.

 
We walk in the house and see Mr. Phelan standing in the foyer with his arms crossed and a look of intense concentration on his face.
 
“Hi General, how are you?” I take note he is still in his gardening clothes.

“Abel, I need you to come with me, we need to talk.”
 
He turns around and I follow him into the activity room.
 
He told all the Pack members to go play in traffic as he closes the door behind me.

“You seem a little serious sir, is everything okay?”
 
Dread overwhelming me as I study the look on his face.
 
I feel vibrations of concern bouncing off of him.

“Well Abe, you and I need to come up with a plan.
 
I know Pru has been out visiting your sister tonight, and ironically your mother showed up.”
 
He sits down on the oversized couch.
 
“Don’t worry, apparently it works out in our favor anyway.
 
The girls are doing their girl stuff and your mom and Pru are staying the night out there.
 
That vamp was over there earlier but he was booted out.”

“My mom?
 
Can’t someone do something?
 
She’s in over her head, she’ll get hurt.
 
General, is someone out there protecting them?”
 
I feel panic take over my rational thought process.

“I’ve sent someone out there to watch over your sister and mother.
 
Sadly that is one of the problems living in a world that mixes humans along with non-humans.”
 
He sits back on the couch, he puts his hand behind his head, propping his feet up on the coffee table.
 
My mom would’ve killed me.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what that is supposed to mean?
 
My Mother didn’t mean to give birth to the future leader of the werewolves of the universe I’m sure.
 
Of all the losers my sister has dated in the last few years, we sure as hell didn’t pick a vampire for her to start knocking boots with.”
 
I stand up and started pacing.
 
“I don’t mean any disrespect sir, but I really don’t see how this is their fault.”

“You’re right Abel, and I’m glad you feel passionate about what you say.
 
We
need
that passion; we need you to be certain of your decisions.
 
One thing for certain, your family does need protecting, but I’m not sure how far we’ll be able to go with your sister.
 
Of course we’ll do what we can, but our priority is
you
.”
 
He pointed his finger at me, making me feel like a little boy.

“General, I can’t let them have Allie.
 
If he turns her into one of
them
, I’ll have no other choice but to stake her.
 
We can’t let it happen, and I need the Pack behind me on this.”
 

Uncharacteristically the General stands up and walks over and puts his arms around me.
 
“Abe, I get it… I do, but our focus is the protection of you.
 
We need you to concentrate on your destiny and let us worry about the vampires.”
 
He pulls away holding me at arm’s length.

At that moment I feel every nerve in my body come alive, my head itched, my feet were throbbing and the burn in my stomach made me want to hurl.
 
“Is it happening?
 
Am I turning into a
were
?”

“No, soon though.”
 
He left the room calling for the Pack to come and join us as we discussed the plans for the vamps.
 
I am relieved when he tells them Allie is a priority.

Bryon and I are sitting in my room when all of the sudden he tells me that he is pledging his guardianship to me and he will be a faithful warrior.

 
“Bryon, dude seriously you don’t need to pledge anything to me.
 
I’m not sold on the whole Great Wolf gig,” I say to him.
 

“I know you aren’t, I just want you to know I will follow your lead.
 
It will be strange having the General in our Pack and him not be the Alpha, I think that will be the hardest part for us and for him.”
 
Bryon looks out my bedroom window, watching for signs of other
weres
or vampires.

“If it all goes the way everyone thinks it will go and I am the almighty, I want the General to stay the Alpha.
 
I’d wait until he died and then take over, but not before that time.”
 

Bryon turns around and busts out laughing at me.
 
“Abel, you won’t have any control over how that happens.
 
It’s instinct, haven’t you figured that out yet?
 
It isn’t that he
wants
to step down, but if you’re the chosen one, the rest of the pack will automatically go to you for decision making.
 
You’ll have the General as your right-hand man and that will probably be great for you since you haven’t grown up in Pack law, but dude you’ll be Alpha.”

I spent the rest of the night mulling over everything including the fact Pru was with my sister trying to keep her from getting bit from that sleazy vamp again.
 

There is a text from Pru saying
operation wolf
vs
vamp score 1
. Now we only have four more full moons to get through before the six months is up.
 

I look across the lunchroom scanning the tables to see where Pru and Bryon are.
 
The tables are all turned sideways for senior project lectures.
 
The PTA thought it would be homier if we have fresh flowers on our tables; so every day there are bud vases with a single carnation placed in a line down the center of the tables.
 
Actually, I didn’t have any idea what kind of flower it is, not until Julie went around and told everyone that her mother brings fresh carnations to the school every day.
 
She brags how it comes out of their pocket and not PTA money.
 
Whatever.
  
I spot Shane at a table with the potheads, nice.
 
He gives me a quick head nod.
 
He told me I was boring now that I hang out with Pru and Bryon and didn’t believe me when I told him we are JUST FRIENDS.
 

I spot Pru opening up a yogurt with her teeth, she is sitting between Bryon and the new girl in school, some girl that moved here from the Reservation.
 
I fist bumped with Bryon and sit down across from him.
 
“Hey, how’s it going?
 
It took me a minute to find you; I thought I’d have to smell you out if I didn’t find you soon.”
 
I laugh at my own joke.

Lately I have noticed the same girls I’ve known since our school career started eleven years ago, have all of the sudden started to pay me much more attention since Pru’s been around.
 
I knew that many of them figured that if Pru sees something in me then I must be worth a second look.
 

“Abe, I have a question for you.”
 
Pru says to me as she spoons in a mouthful of yogurt.

“Ah, okay.
 
You never make an announcement that you have a question, so shoot.”
 
I put my chin in my hand and leaned in across the table to hear her better.
 
Giving a more dramatic effect.
 
I catch Bryon holding back a snicker as he looks away from me.

 
“Have you looked in a mirror lately?”
 
She asks as she pulls a mirror thingy out of her purse and holds it up in front of my face.

“What?
 
Do I have a booger or something?”
 
I grab the mirror and start rubbing my nose in embarrassment.

“You’re dumb, no!
 
You don’t seem to get why the girls are paying attention to you.
 
You’re always saying it’s because I’m around, but you’re wrong Abe.
 
They notice you because you’re hot.”
 
She rolls her eyes at me as I thrust the mirror back at her.

“Are you high?
 
I’m not hot.
 
Not like
that
.
 
I’m just me.”
 
I feel my face turning red; I don’t need a mirror to figure that out.

“No, seriously you are.
 
You’ve been filling out from all of the working out.
 
The wolf in you has cleared up your face, not that it was bad or anything but
weres
don’t typically get acne.
 
Your hair is really shiny and healthy and you have that animal magnetism about you.
 
I don’t think you ever give yourself credit.
 
You’re hot Abel.
 
Not that you have time for girls right now, but I want you to have faith in yourself.
 
Supernat’s
are usually beautiful, kind of like the CW’s TV shows.”
 
She stands and stretches as she takes her tray to the return window.

I watch her as she bounces across the room taking in the view.
 
The girls at the popular table are pointing my direction giggling to each other. Yeah, those girls don’t think someone like me is hot, they probably can’t figure out why such a beautiful girl sits with me.

“So, I noticed you looked around, did you see the girls all looking at you?”
 
Pru grabs the carnation out of the vase, methodically pulling off the ruffled petals one by one.

“Well, I noticed them pointing and laughing.
 
I don’t think it is me being hot, but I do know my gun show is pretty impressive.
 
Whatcha
think Bryon, do you think I’m hot?”
 

“You’re
aight
but not really my type.”
 
He laughs.
 
“Maybe if you grow some boobs and let your hair grow out I’ll reassess my feelings.”

Pru rolls her eyes at him and says, “Never mind him, but you’d be hotter if you changed your choice in clothes though.
 
I know the t-shirt and jeans thing has been working for you since you were what?
 
Four?
 
I think the time has come you start dressing a little more fashionable.
 
After this weekend you and I are going out shopping to spiff up your clothing choices.”
 
She takes a protein bar out of her purse and starts munching on it.
 
“You want one?
 
You need to keep up your strength and you only ate one lunch today.”

“Yeah I’ll take one.
 
Thanks.”