I only got halfway through my word count for this year when all sorts of things went pear shaped-family obligations, work commitments, emergency house repairs, volunteer service expanded, etc. My muse also kept ducking out so when I did find time to write, I couldn't actually get anything onto the page.
I will only be posting the first chapter, until I get a chance to do some editing on the rest.
Title: Kenley's Curse
Author: marygriggs
Genre/Fandom: Speculative Fiction/Original
Pairing: Kenley/Rebecca
Rating: R
Word Count: about 26,665
Author's Notes: This is an attempt for National Novel Writing Month 2010 and is my take on a Louisiana werewolf tale, also know as a loup garou (loo ga roo).
Summary: A woman is transformed after a bite and she needs the intervention of her friends to find a way to control the beast within.
Kenley’s Curse
It rains into the sea
And still the sea is saltAE HousemenKenley O’Connor took the two steps down from the streetcar and tossed a cheery, “Thank you,” over her shoulder at the driver. Settling her backpack more firmly on her shoulder, she made sure her grip on the grocery bag was secure before crossing St. Charles Avenue.
Walking through the entrance of Audubon Park, she smiled at the pickup soccer and touch football games that were being played in the open spaces between the live oak trees. Kenley followed the concrete path, taking deep breaths. The evening air was lightly perfumed with sweet olive, jasmine and magnolia.
Glancing up, she saw that the pale moon was already high in the sky. Kenley rested her bag on a bench and stared up at the sky. Yesterday had been the autumnal equinox and today moon’s was swollen full of promise.
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled and she spun quickly around. Scanning the surrounding trees, she did not see anything, not even a ubiquitous squirrel. The section of the park she was in was unusually still and quiet. She could not even hear a cricket.
“Stop being silly,” Kenley murmured to herself. Shivering a little, she grabbed up her bag and hurried on her way. As the path led her away from the grove, she heard the mournful howl of dog. Her steps faltered a little at how sad the animal sounded but a peek at her watch kept her moving forward.
Kenley quickened her pace, leaving the pitiful cries behind her. She was not so quick to leave behind a feeling of dread. She tried shaking it off by plastering on a smile as she climbed the steps to her boss, and best friends, house.
“Hey, hon, we were about to send a search party.”
“Hi, Karen. My car’s in the shop, so I had to take public transportation and my feet.”
“Well, come on in and get a beer. Michelle brought some Chinese stuff that isn’t half bad.”
“Good, I could use one,” Kenley answered as she followed Karen through the house to the kitchen.
The house was an original shotgun style and the kitchen was an add-on at the back of the house. They had to walk through the living room, both bedrooms and the bathroom before reaching their destination.
Michelle stepped away from the stove and came over to give her a hug. “Glad you could make it. I have been chopping like mad for hours.”
“You left work after I did!”
“So I exaggerate a little. Sue me!”
“Don’t tease a hungry lawyer.”
“Big talker. What’s in the bag?”
“I brought a number of different dipping sauces and the wonton wrappers and filling to make the dumplings.”
“Oh, goody. I’m so glad you suggested having a dim sum dinner. I’ve always wanted to try these things but I get so intimidated at the restaurant because I don’t know what anything is.”
Karen handed Kenley a beer. “The last time we went our table was filled to overflowing with containers missing single pieces and plates with piles of things with only a bite taken. It is hard to look in their eyes when we say we don’t want to take any of it with us.”
“Yeah, its can be wasteful when you don’t know what you’re doing. I remember my first time and I had to sit there looking at the deep fried duck foot for the entire meal.” Kenley smiled, “I think you’ll enjoy the steamed dumplings and we’ll fire up your wok to finish off with a stir fry and fried rice.”
“Excellent. What shall we do first?”
Kenley pulled open the bag and began setting items aside. She put the others to work and dinner was quickly assembled and on the table. They were all good friends and the food was delicious and the conversation was engrossing. Kenley was startled when she glanced at her watch and realized that it was almost midnight. “Damn, I’ve got to go. My boss wants me in and coherent first thing in the morning.”
“You want us to call you a cab?’
“No, I should be able to catch the street car,” Kenley replied. “If I miss it, I can grab a taxi from St. Charles.” She loaded up a paper plate with the leftover rice.
“What’s that for? Didn’t we feed you enough?”
“Oh, its not for me.” Kenley blushed a little. “I passed by this dog in the park and I’m just going to give him dinner.”
Michelle and Karen exchanged glances.
“What?”
“You heard a howling?”
“Yeah, it was so sad. I want to feed him.”
“We’ve been hearing that nearly all summer. The people who live next to the park have been calling animal control every night.”
“They haven’t been able to catch it or shut it up.” Karen shook her head, “I don’t think they’d be pleased if you encouraged it.”
Kenley shrugged. “I can’t leave it to starve.”
“Suit yourself. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
“I’m duly warned.” Kenley hugged her friends. “Bye!”
“Bye, Kenley. See you at work tomorrow. We’ve got the Clarence deposition at nine.”
“Like I could forget a case I’ve been working on for nine months! Don’t worry, boss, I’ll be there.” She skipped down the steps and retraced her steps toward the streetcar that would carry her home.
It was fully dark as she crossed the park, keeping to the middle of the path that was lit by the moon. When she came near the area that she had felt being watched, she noticed again how quiet it was it. There was no sound from insects or the scrabble of nocturnal animals.
Kenley carefully put down the plate of food and backed up to sit on a near by bench. She thought briefly of how foolish she was being but she wanted to see if she could catch a glimpse of the dog that had howled so mournfully and evaded capture for all these weeks.
She was rewarded by a rustle from the underbrush and the movement of a dark shape toward the path. Gasping a little at just how big the animal was, she froze in place when it turned to look at her.
In the light from the moon, the animal was much larger and shaggier than any dog she had ever seen. Its eyes glinted red as it looked from the plate of food to her.
Kenley had the distinct impression that it was trying to decide which would be a tastier meal. Swallowing, she wished she had been able to drive today. Had she taken her car, she never would have heard the howls from her car and she would be home right now, not being looked at like some wild animal’s next meal.
Standing up, she began to back away. She moved slowly and murmured quietly, “Good, doggie. Eat the food and forget that I’m not even here.” She tried not to stare directly into the eyes, afraid of antagonizing the creature.
The part of her brain that was not gibbering in almost panic was fascinating that such a large beast had been able to hide out in Audubon Park for as long as it had. Surrounded on all sides by houses and busy streets, this was an incredibly unlikely place to find wildlife bigger than a possum. Perhaps it had escaped from the zoo, she thought before realizing that the animal was closer to her than before.
It stalked after her, hardly making a sound, as it’s large paws padded on the path.
Walking backwards, Kenley stumbled a little on a rough patch of asphalt and when she looked back up the animal was almost on top of her. “No!” she yelled as it lunged.
Barely in time, Kenley got her arm up and the sharp teeth closed down savagely on it. The stench of the foul breath and the incredible pain made her gag and cough.
A scream was torn from her throat as the large beast shook its head. She could feel the bones being crushed as she held her wrist with her other hand, trying to brace it up as the animal suddenly released her only to snap again at her neck.
Ducking and turning enough to protect her face, the next bite came down on her shoulder. The pain was so intense, that she did not have breath to scream. The snarls and growls from the animal were loud in her ear. In desperation, she drove her knees up into the animals belly and it just bit harder on her arm.
Suddenly, the animal shuddered. The rage filled red eyes seemed to flick to intelligent brown for an instant before it rocked again and released its hold.
Through blood and tears, Kenley watched as it turned from her and headed toward a man in a green uniform who fumbled with his rifle as he reloaded it and lifted it up to his shoulder to aim.
The shot sounded loud in the darkness and an even louder roar of rage followed it from the beast. The man loaded again, his hands visibly shaking.
The animal had nearly reached him when its legs seemed to just go out from under it. Almost comically, it plowed face first in the dirt. All of the emergency services personnel kept their flashlights on the animal, as if they were afraid it would rise up again.
Kenley, too, kept her eyes on the still form until the police around it and the paramedics around her hid it from view.
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