Tomorrow's Light
Written by Drew Clements
Conceptualized by Drew Clements and Bryan Hester
(Part Seven - III)

"Damn it Bella." Augustus shook his head and stared down at Tomorrow, who drooled uncontrollably. The elder wolf had seen this type of thing once before when The Council had been seeking negotiations with Bella's people many years ago. They wanted nothing to do with The Council and its government, so it was decided to send back the diplomatic party in a state of mania; their message was well received.

"There's plenty of cover via woods, boss!" Ditko landed gracefully on the pavement behind the two wolves and their new friend. "Whoa, what happened to her?"

"Bella Shame." Augustus answered.

"Oh man, she's still around? They really sent out the big guns, huh?" Ditko shivered.

"Indeed." Augustus responded, "Let's move."

Khron picked Tomorrow up, Ditko took to the air, and Augustus walked toward the woods. It was a decent-sized stretch that would easily provide cover for a short while, which was what they needed. The cops were coming; they could hear the sirens, so they would need to lie low, away from the neighborhood.

Their commotion had no doubt created many a witness in such a small and closely-knit neighborhood; Augustus knew that was bad. Before he and Khron had returned to Tomorrow, they had hid the bodies of the dead Intulo in the high shrubbery that had grown thick outside the walls of the community. As a member of The Council, he had to uphold certain rules of play that demanded, no matter the cost, the total secrecy of the world of his creatures. Unfortunately, according to the upper echelon of The Council, the fate of the world lay in Tomorrow’s hands, which mean he couldn’t be quite as thorough in cleaning up as he wanted. Surely the cops would search the area and find the Intulo bodies.

The three entered the woods and kept walking until the trees were thick enough to not be able to see the populated area behind them. The sky was clear and the moon was high; bright blue/white splotches found their way through the thick roof of the wooded area, providing a small amount of light.

"How did they know about her?" Khron asked.

"I only found out about her after the kidnapping of The Council President via the emergency protocols left me," Augustus explained. "Whoever kidnapped him must have extracted it, but I don't know how. He would never volunteer the information. Willingly, that is."

"Not even..." Khron began, but was silenced by Tomorrow's sudden, violent jerk. He nearly dropped her completely, but was able to set her down quickly.

"What the hell was that?" Tomorrow asked, her eyes blinking rapidly.

"You just met Bella Shame, up close and personal." Augustus smiled.

"What did she do to me?"

"She made you fall in love with her," Augustus surveyed the area, fully expecting a follow-up question.

Tomorrow did not disappoint, "She what? I'm not a lesbian! Not that there’s anything wrong with that…"

"That has nothing to do with it," Augustus shook his head. "She has the ability to enhance and manipulate emotions."

"You're kidding. That's hard to believe..." She thought for a second, "But then again, I'm a werewolf."

Augustus winced at the term.

"What?"

"We prefer the term "lycanthromorph."" Augustus' brow rose. He knew she didn't know, having grown up in the "outside world," but, really, what better time than now to being her education of how his world worked?

"You're kidding, right?" She asked, but immediately knew by the look on his face that he wasn't, "Oh."

She glanced around, surprised by the vividness of the near-dark area around her; it was like daylight to her; it was amazing. Suddenly she realized exactly where they were. It wasn’t difficult, after all, she had played here when she was younger.

"What happened over there? Did you guys take the lizards out? What about Bella? Did I mention that I'm a monster?" Tomorrow was full of questions.

"Khron removed you from the situation and I... took care of some of the Intulo. Bella, however, decided it was not a situation she wanted to be in--face-to-face with me, that is." Augustus bared his teeth in pride. "And you're not a monster. No more than he or I."

"What about me?" Ditko scrambled into view from a bush.

Tomorrow had known he was there the whole time. She could smell him... that same smell she had experienced at her mailbox a couple of days before. Now she could get a better look at him and know that she wasn't crazy; her visions of him had nothing to do with those cookies!

"He is not a monster either.” Augustus paused, “Unless you consider someone slightly outspoken a monster."

Augustus received an angry look from the small dragon.

Tomorrow looked at Khron and, if the fur would have allowed, blushed a thanks then vocalized it before looking back to the older wolf. "Who is she, exactly?"

"Yeah, no "hello, Ditko"... nothing." The dragon plopped his butt hard on the ground and listened.

"Bella is the product of anger and hate. Her race was eradicated during an attack by a clan of Tigris in Sweden; total genocide. She believes the Tigris to be agents of The Council that were sent to change their minds about joining up; therefore she hates everything to do with The Council." Augustus shook his head, "It's unfortunate; all of it."

"Her race? What are they? They're all faceless?" Tomorrow's eyes were big and full of wonder.

"Yes, the Lilin are all faceless."

"Lilin, huh? Do they all have the same type of power?"

"Indeed, they do," Augustus sniffed the air. "We need to keep moving."

“To where?” Tomorrow asked.

“We’re to get you back to The Council in North Carolina.” Augustus answered.

"Okay," Tomorrow stood and swayed a bit, the effects of Bella's hex wearing off made her a bit lightheaded, “but where are we going right now?”

Augustus looked at the moon, mouthed something, and then removed a piece of paper from under his cloak. He unrolled it, and read aloud, “King Burger on Highway 82.”

“What!? You’re hungry?”

“No, we’re meeting someone that’ll make it easier to get back to The Council. An agent, if you will.”

“At King Burger?” Tomorrow was confused, “Who, exactly?”

“Terry Faulk, do you know him?” Augustus asked.

“No, but what’s he got, a car? Wait, how did you guys get here?” She was full of questions.

“A practitioner of the mystic arts opened a portal that allowed instant access from North Carolina to here. Terry Faulk is the only registered local practitioner in this county. He’ll be able to open another portal to get us back there.” Augustus explained.

Tomorrow had heard enough crazy stuff to know that she had no reason not to believe what he was saying. The problem now was getting back to Highway 82, a heavily traveled and populated area, without being caught.

“Impossible.”

“What?” Augustus asked.

“Highway 82 is back there,” Tomorrow motioned toward the church, “and the King Burger is a full four or more miles back toward Tuscaloosa. Oh, and it’s at an intersection next to a shopping center and a couple of restaurants.”

“Hmm…” Augustus thought for a minute, “Unfortunately you are not past this phase of your transformation, so it would be impossible for you to return to your normal body to enter that area tonight.”

“Khron and I have no suitable set of clothes to allow us to enter the King Burger establishment and area surrounding it without causing commotion.”

“Wait, you mean I can’t transform back to my normal body?’ Tomorrow asked.

“You have to wait until dawn, when the moon’s power no longer has its hold on you during this phase.”

“What? So the movies are right, we do transform during full moons?” Tomorrow laughed.

“No, the initial transformation takes place the third full moon after your sixteenth birthday. That is, of course, if you were born into the blood, which you were. Being initiated via blood and enzyme infection is a different story altogether. Outside of that first night the moon has no true hold on your transformation. Our creators had specifics in mind when we were brought about.”

“I see. At least I know I’m not trapped like this forever.” Tomorrow motioned to her body.

Augustus shook his head, “There are worse fates.”

“So what now?” Tomorrow asked.

“We have to find a place to stay for the evening, away from those that hunt us. Then, once you’re able to transform in the morning, you’ll go to King Burger and meet Terry.” Augustus nodded.

“Great, but it’s not exactly like the tatters of clothing will get me in unnoticed.” Tomorrow motioned to her clothes.

“We’ll fix that by the morning.” Augustus nodded.

“How do we know this guy will be there? Does he eat there breakfast, lunch, and dinner?”

“No, he works there and I have his schedule.” Augustus pointed to the piece of paper before putting it inside a hidden pocket in his cloak.

“A wizard works at King Burger?” Tomorrow shook her head.

“I’m sure he can fill you in on that when we meet him.” Augustus smiled.

“We need to be going. The cops are in your neighborhood and will soon make their way here. We were no doubt seen heading this way.” Khron interrupted their conversation.

“Indeed.” Augustus agreed, “Zar will be a part of the force by now, so Bella will know that where we have gone as well.”

“That’s also to say that they don’t have a tracker in their group.” Khron pointed out.

“Indeed. We may not be safe anywhere.” Augustus frowned.

"Guys, if we keep going, um," She pointed to deeper in the woods, "that way, we'll come to a clearing and beyond that is a small airport; beyond that is a place I think we’d be safe."

"You know this place you speak of well?" Khron asked.

"I’ve been there a number of times. My mom didn’t approve… not at all. It’s perfect for us, though." Tomorrow smiled and walked in the direction she had pointed.

“It’s not as though we have much choice.” Augustus followed.

“Chatty girl.” Ditko shuffled past Augustus and Khron.

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