47)

I still had a few questions, like did the bite ever go bad, or when it worked would it cure cancer. Could we get cancer?

But maybe those weren’t the kind of questions you should be asking a kid.

But maybe other people had questions about things I wouldn’t think to ask?

“I think that’s all I got right now kiddo, but maybe you can answer some other people’s questions, okay?”

She nodded eagerly. I gave Charles a warning look. “So does anybody got something to ask the kid?” With a little emphasis on “Kid”. Charles gave a little nod, good, he would keep it kid friendly.

Ami rushed out a quick question before anyone else could. “Hi I’m Ami, this is Sara and Aran. And that’s our older cousin Charles. Grandpa didn’t bother to tell us your names.” She gave me a stern look that broke down into a look of sheer mischief.

We she was right, I should have made some introductions.

The girl perked up. “I’m Mel, my mom’s name is Deborah, or Debby or Miss Adams, and that’s Dare and his grandma Adora or Sheriff Karras.”

Ami whispered the names to herself as each was introduced, before peppering the girl, Mel, with her questions. “Do you have a wolf name? Can you talk to wolves? Or dogs? Do dogs get freaked out by werewolves? Can you have a dog…?”

I interrupted the barrage of questions with a two fingered tap on top of her head, to which she reacted like I had smacked her and gave me a look of betrayal. “One question at a time.”

Mel turned to her mom eagerly. “I can have a wolf name? What kinda name can I pick? Or does somebody else pick? Can I be Dawn raider?”

Ami, cranial injury forgotten looked up eagerly as well.

The mom, worried, looked back and forth between her roommate and boss. “Wolf names? Is that a thing?”

Both were holding back laughter, as Adora shook her head. “No, Darius just calls her that because she keep waking up before you two do.” She leaned toward the girl. “But you can have a wolf name if you want too, it can be a thing now.”

She leaned back and took a pose. “I will be the Silver moon, and you mother can be Blurter of secrets.”

Her grandson knocked his fist the top of the table. “Fenris, calling it. Dibs”

That got a laugh from most of the adult, even a somewhat harassed looking Deborah. Who was still embarrassed after being called out for outing the presence of the kids. The kids themselves seemed confused as to what the adult were so amused about and just waiting us out so they could get back to the importunate stuff.

Ami got Mel’s attention again, “Soooo? Wolves, dogs?”

Mel tried to remembers “I never met a real wolf, but I know I can’t talk to anyone when I’m in my wolf body, not even other werewolves.”

“Dogs do get scared, but that’s because I’m someone they don’t know. If they do know me, they just want to play in whatever body I’m in, but mom doesn’t like me to play rough with them because I’m too strong. That’s also why I had to be home schooled the last few years because I got too strong too fast when I was little.”

She looked sad at that but Sara nodded at her. “Me too. It was only for a year, but then I was in junior high when I went back.” She frowned. “I would rather have stuck with the home schooling.”

Ami looked sad as well. “I got pulled out this year because my powers came in.”

Mel looked confused, “Powers? Are you a werewolf too?” Her mom and Dare just looked curious, having apparently been warned by Adora.

My granddaughter shook her head. “No...I’m a witch.”

The girl, Mel, began to get excited. “For real, you can do magic?” She gave me a curious look. “Can you all do magic, did I make you into a magic werewolf?”

I shook my head. “Naw kiddo. I was just plain vanilla human before you chomped down on me.” The girl blushed and sunk down a bit. “Sara is Supergirl, Aran is too young to know yet, and Charles is the most powerful of us all.”

The girl looked over to him as he gave her a little smile. “What are you?” She asked in a somewhat nervous tone of wonder.

He leaned forward. “I am what all men fear. An Attorney at law”

She didn’t get it, but saw the adults did, and responded with an eye roll and a “tsk” sound.

After that she asked Ami to “Show me some magic.” and the kids headed off to the other end of the open area behind the house I had designated the as the Barbecue grounds and the rest of use turned to some more serious questions as I kept one eye on the kids.

You know, in case Ami looses it and sends the wolf kid into the side of the house, or if Mel goes wolf and starts snapping at people. Standard concerns.

Charles took the lead.

“So, if I understand this. Because my Uncle turned into a werewolf from being bitten once, and is also strong for a werewolf. There is a good chance I could become one was well.’

The younger two turned to look at Adora. She gave Charles a look of consideration.

“That is true, but not guarantied. If you did want to become one of us, you would have to leave the city. Even the vampires who look down on the ones who drink our blood would think you are there to spy on them. And the ones who do target us...” She shook her head. “Even if they did not attack you themselves, others would since there is a market.”

She raised her hands up, as if she was helpless to offer any other options. “There is work here for a lawyer who is one of us, and once word gets out, others would be interested in a lawyer who is “Other.”, even among the vampires themselves. But you would have to leave your home, and even give up visiting cities, at least without guards. Since even during the day, it would be dangerous.”

She looked back and forth between the two of us. “But I think you already suspected most of this, and it is not you, that you are asking for.’

She leaned forward and stared down the table at Charles with a serious look.

“So why not lay down your cards and tell me what it is that you want, Attorney to wolves?”