Page 40 of The Agent and the Outlaw
Charlotte nodded in horror.
“This is preposterous,” I exclaimed. “You can’t be serious, Doctor. Two illnesses changing into something completely different in a person’s body? Outrageous. There must be some other explanation.”
“I’m not entirely certain myself, Lieutenant. It’s just that all these symptoms fit. The rapid recovery and extraordinary healing, the inexplicable strength, the enhanced sense of smell, the desire for meat…” the doctor ticked these off on her fingers.
“I most certainly donotdesire that bloody meat,” Charlotte began, her voice rising in hysteria. Her eyes glittered as she looked at the plate of raw beef, and I doubted the validity of her refusal. “What are you suggesting, exactly? That I’ve become some vampire-like wolf creature?” The realization struck her like a blow. “I’m…I’m a damned werewolf?!”
Van Helsing’s mouth twisted in a frown, and she shrugged helplessly. “As I said, I don’t know for certain.”
“There are several problems with your reasoning,” I argued, finding this all utterly unbelievable. “Charlotte isn’t sprouting fur all over her body and howling at the moon.”
“Well, itisthe afternoon. We don’t know what will happen when the moon rises,” Van Helsing reasoned. Then, upon seeing the frightened expression on Charlotte’s face, seemed to backtrack. “Allow me to run some small experiments. I could be wrong about all of this. I’ve only seen something like it once before, and that was a long time ago. It wasn’t even thesame thingexactly, but…merde.Charlotte, I’m sorry. We just don’t know enough about this particular disease—the blood plague, I mean—to rule anything out. We’ve only just started to understand how it works, and even then, more by luck than any scientific triumph. I cannot tell you not to worry, but I can tell you that I will do everything in my power to help you. We will do our best to figure this out, all right?”
A tear spilled from Charlotte’s eye, but she nodded. “Of course. Thank you, Van Helsing.”
I couldn’t believe she was accepting this ridiculous diagnosis.What a notion!It was only days ago that I was having to convince her of the possibility of werewolves existing, and here she was, suddenly accepting that she herself had become one.It’s absurd!The doctor had to be wrong. There had to be another explanation.
I opened my mouth to speak, but Charlotte held up her hand in warning.
“Please,” she said in a small voice. “I need some time to think. Doctor. Antoine. I’d like to be left alone for a little while.”
Van Helsing nodded and gestured at the plate of meat. “Try to eat something. You’re still recovering, and you’ll need your strength to get through this.”
I watched the doctor leave and turned back to Charlotte.
“Don’t believe a word of it,” I urged. “What she’s suggesting…it’s impossible.”
“Please, Antoine. Leave me alone right now. I need to think.”
“Fine. I’ll go get you somerealfood. From the bakery! Bread, tarts, pastries, whatever you wish. Asparagus and poached eggs, if I can manage it. Don’t worry, Charlotte. All is not lost.” I stepped close to her, unable to resist running my fingers along her cheek. She turned away from me, and I frowned.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Just go,” she insisted.
Feeling hopeless, angry, confused, and a thousand kinds of foolish, I did as she asked. As I closed the door behind me, I caught a final glimpse of her burying her head in her hands. Suddenly, my earlier words came back to haunt me.When you are recovered, we must part ways.Oh, Antoine, you utter ass.
How can I leave her now?
13
CHARLOTTE
November 18, 1767
The Wild Rose,Gévaudan
I staredin defeated disgust at the slab of meat on the plate. My stomach rumbled shamefully.It is like a steak,I thought to myself.Only it is quite rare. Just eat it, Charlotte. You have had worse before.I picked up the silverware on the tray and cut into it, my vision blurring behind a veil of hot tears that gathered in my eyes.
How could this be?A werewolf!A kind of mutation of the insidious blood plague that had so challenged and changed our country. It didn’t feel real. I glanced at the pile of splintered wood on the floor next to my bed and frowned.I didn’t hit it that hard, did I?
Closing my eyes, I took a bite of the meat. The moment it touched my tongue, I gave up an involuntary sigh of relief. It tasted heavenly—like the best meal I’d ever had, multiplied by a thousand. I opened my eyes to look at the plate in a warped hope that it had somehow transformed into something else, but it hadn’t. A tear slipped down my cheek as I took another bite.No doubt about it now, Charlotte. You’re eating raw meat and it’s the best damn thing you’ve ever had.
Grateful to be alone, I allowed the tears to fall as I devoured every scrap before me. Immediately, I felt strength return to my muscles and my senses sharpen to a previously unknown degree. Sounds became clearer, smells became more complex—even my eyesight intensified. I looked out the window at a tree some miles away and was able to count the leaves on one autumnal branch.Seventy-two.The distortion of the glass windowpane didn’t hinder me a bit.
I took a deep breath and focused on the new feelings in my body. Physically, I felt the same as before, but with an added intensity and acuity. I simply feltmore.
Was this what vampires felt when they turned?
