At a werewolf.
CHAPTER
TWO
It was a werewolf.
An honest to God giant, bulging werewolf.
It stood on two feet, gigantic and bulging with thick muscle, and its sleek black fur was sprinkled with silver. Its eyes were a brilliant shade of ice blue, and there was a scar cutting through the left one. It was incredible and terrifying, and…
Okay, fuck this.
Seymour swung the flowers as hard as he could.
In that moment, attacking seemed like a good idea.
Attacking with flowers, not so much.
The werewolf barely flinched as the blossoms made contact with its snout. Its nose wiggled, one of its eyes twitched, and then it sneezed.
“Hey!” Neil protested, eerily calm for someone in the presence of a hulking werewolf. “Why did you wolf out?”
The werewolf tried to speak, but then sneezed again. It held up a claw, blinking slowly as it turned to stare at a light.
“Say elephant!” Flanders called out. “That’s supposed to help.”
“Is it stuck now?” asked the woman, frowning with concern. “I could make you some tea to help! The pollen really has just been so awful this year.”
“Great!” The werewolf growled. “Now itisstuck.”
“Sorry. That sucks.” Neil came over to rub the werewolf’s back. “Now, do you wanna tell me why you’re all wolfed out?”
“Because he can see Myrna and Flanders.” The werewolf gestured at Seymour. “Hello?”
“And he would like to leave.” Seymour tried to step around them. “Goodbye!”
The werewolf grabbed Seymour’s shoulder. “Not until you explain how you’re able to see the spirits of the Reliquary.”
“The Reli-what now?” Seymour scoffed.
“That’s us!” The woman waved and then did a little curtsey. “I’m Myrna. A pleasure! This handsome pup is Flanders! Not sure if you heard him before since you seemed a bit out of sorts. He’s really quite nice?—”
“Don’t let her lie to you,” Flanders cut in as his eyes narrowed. “I will eat you.” He looked over Seymour thoughtfully. “But head first. Out of respect for your shoes.”
Myrna ignored him and kept going, saying cheerfully, “This young man is Neil, of course, and this other handsome pup is Lou!”
“Mr. Morénas-Mostro,” Lou corrected sternly, narrowing his icy eyes at Seymour.
“Mr. Move Your Damn Hand,” Seymour shot back. “I am leaving right the fuck now?—”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Neil held out his hands and offered a kind smile. “Look, I know this seems like a lot. It was for me too?—”
“Foryou?”
“Yeah, I wasn’t exactly prepared for my first surprise werewolf, all right?” Neil tried to hold Seymour’s gaze. “But thisis important. Life and death. Please. Just, uh, have a seat? All we wanna do is talk. Lou is gonna wolf in?—”
Lou scoffed. “Wolf in?”
