Rick strode into Drake’s office-like room, and then over to Drake himself, who was sitting quietly in a small chair by the fire, as though he hadn’t heard the wolf come in.
“Donlec, you know why I am here, and I know you will not betray your friends willingly. I don’t have any time for beating around the bush, as I’ve told you before. I need you to help me, or I’ll get someone with a looser tongue.”
Drake laughed bitterly, eyes still trained on the bright fire.
“I don’t really care anymore, sir. Torture me until I die… it doesn’t really matter how.”
Rick licked the blood off one of his claws, eyes glittering maniacally.
“As I said before, I don’t have time for this. Would you rather I looked for answers elsewhere, or will you finally give me the answers I seek?”
“Answers? I don’t have any answers. I’m filled with questions, questions of my past. But you won’t listen to them. You could stay content forever, simply reminding me of your favorite parts of the annihilation of my family… the family I don’t even know.”
Rick glanced at Drake, a small smile playing with his lips.
“Do you really want to know about your family? Very well, ask away.”
The man hid his surprise, finally turning his eyes from the fire, “Did you- did you really kill them all, or did you just mess with my memory?”
Drake knew all about Rick’s powers, or as much as the wolf allowed him to. He wasn’t exactly sure what he should ask. Now that he could ask, he felt like all his questions had escaped him.
“Memories are quite interesting things… minds are, for that matter. The most important information about yourself could be right under your snout, or nose, if you’re human, and you might never see it. You really aren’t an exception, Donlec.”
For a moment, Drake was too surprised by the way Rick answered to notice that he’d dodged the question.
“I’m wasting precious time, though. The point is that I know the only torture that will bring the answers out of you, and I’d rather get it over with. I’d love to sit and watch the delicious agony, but I really need to see to other things…”
Drake looked up, horrified.
“Y-you threaten things a-all the time… master. Th-that doesn’t m-m-mean you c-carry out those thr-threats…” his voice was barely above a whisper.
“This isn’t a threat,” Rick said softly, “no, I’ve gone beyond that, Donlec.”
His right paw began to shine, brighter… brighter… the whole room was filled with the bright red light, and Rick held up the shining ball that he gripped in his claws, and for a moment, indecision filled his face…
Drake tried to run, but he couldn’t move, he was frozen in place. He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes…
The wolf whispered something in the ancient language, and then threw the ball, watching as it enveloped Drake.
Drake was trapped in the red bubble, and there he floated, motionless, eyes closed, ignoring Rick’s voice as he continued to speak in the ancient language.
A little projection of light appeared in front of him, and his eyes pulled open grudgingly. He tried to close them again as he realized with horror what the projection was showing, but they stayed wide open, unblinking.
Rick’s voice pierced the bubble, “Don’t bother, Donlec. You have to watch…. Again.”
His cruel laugh filled the room just as the light had, and then he strode out the door, slamming it behind him.
*
The sun began to set, and the boy relaxed on the wooden bench, eyes closed.
“This is what California is all about to you, isn’t it?” another boy sat down next to him, shaking his head.
“What’s wrong with that? I’m twelve now, remember? I’m aloud to go here. Besides, these sunsets are breathtaking…” the younger boy took a deep breath, smiling contentedly.
“Yeah, but when I was twelve, I didn’t do stupid stuff like this. Girls do things like this. Breathtaking, huh!” the older boy looked disgusted, but the younger could tell he liked the sunset just as much.
“That was only two years ago, Cole. Hey, d’you remember the time you fell down that slide, and I thought a huge wolf threw you?” the two boys laughed, watching as the pinks, purple, reds, and oranges of the sunsets faded to different shades of grey.
They stood up, shivering in the sudden cold.
“That’s weird. It was so warm…” Cole looked around, frowning.
“Where do I remember that odd coldness from…?” the younger boy cocked his head, struggling to remember.
“Co… I think it was… yeah. It got cold like this the day that you fell down the slide… and it was warm that day too…” the two boy’s eyes grew wide, and Cole gulped, turned, and dashed off, shouting something about first home got candy.
“Hmph. I can see he’d be useless where I might send him. Now you, boy… you might be something else.”
He didn’t dare turn around. He recognized that growl… that voice.
“Yes, you might be useful. It’s too bad I have to wait so much longer… but then again, another while should do even you good. Hmm… it’s for the best. Just keep your mouth shut and get a little smarter, Donlec.”
Warm breath curled around his neck, and the voice that whispered in his ear was barely audible.
“Oh, and come down here on your thirteenth birthday. There’ll be a… present here.”
The boy whirled around, but there was no one there. Only the smell of blood, coming from a small swirl of red smoke hanging in the moist air.
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-Sela
