A Hellhound in Manhattan: Part 1

Chapter 8

Over the following days rumors of the Manhattan Hellhound only worsened.

Each evening there were more opinion pieces meant to stir up fear and paranoia, and people made false claims of encountering the monster. One woman alleged to having been bitten by the creature and rescued in the nick of time by medical professionals. People bought her story in droves, even though there was no record of her visiting the hospital, nor were there any signs of blood on her bandages.

Disgraceful, Goliath thought.

That evening Brooklyn found Goliath in the library. He was researching church grims, jackals and other canines said to be guardians of the dead. So many people were killed in New York on a daily basis; it wouldn't have surprised him if this werewolf was merely keeping watch of a neighborhood where someone had been murdered.

"Goliath?" said Brooklyn. "I need to talk to you about something."

Goliath closed his book. "Brooklyn, I need you out on patrol tonight."

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I was hoping I could get the night off."

"I'm sorry, Brooklyn, but I'm afraid it's going to have to wait. More and more people are suffering because of the rumors alone. Finding this creature's whereabouts is currently our top priority. Unless it's something urgent, my friend..."

Brooklyn paused. "No. It's not."

"All right. Safe travels, brother."

Brooklyn made his way out to the castle courtyard. He hadn't said a word to any of them about meeting Loona. While Goliath had always been supportive about forming new allies, Brooklyn couldn't shake off the suspicion that he wouldn't approve of her, as there was no telling who was affiliated with the Quarrymen and who wasn't.

At the very least, until it could be confirmed she was just as trustworthy as Elisa, Brooklyn promised himself that he would not disclose to her where his clan resided. As second-in-command, he had their safety to think about.

Brooklyn took his position along the battlement; it was time to meet with Loona as promised. He didn't care if he had patrol. The least he could do was say hello to her. Let her know that he remembered their appointment.

Brooklyn launched off and glided across the city, the wind currents cool and chilling beneath him.

***

Loona looked up at a stone angel. "This seat taken?" Loona asked before she sat down at the edge of its pedestal.

She had once more donned her human disguise as it was the only way to travel without getting screamed at. She got the occasional weirdo telling her "Halloween's not until next month!" Or "Check it out! It's the Goblin Queen!" Still infuriating, but slightly more preferable to being called a monster.

As she waited she couldn't stop rubbing at the bare skin on her fingers. She had only been getting the hang of this disguise magic for the last few days, and she still wasn't used to the sensation of not having fur. Now when she went into a convenience store for some beer and beef jerky, she was only stopped for not having an ID, instead of being harassed by some random gun-happy lunatic who thought himself a "brave monster hunter."

Not that that stopped her from grabbing a drink. On her way to the cemetery she briefly crashed an off-campus frat party and stole a beer from their fridge.

She rapped her fingernails on the stone ledge and took a swig.

"Hello, Loona."

Loona yelped, nearly spitting out her beer. Behind her Brooklyn stepped out from the stone angel's shadow.

He lightly chuckled. It was his turn to sneak up on her.

Loona laughed and wiped her chin with her cuff. "What took you so long?"

She sheepishly glanced at him from behind her hair. He looked so classy and regal with his wings draped across his shoulders and the moonlight outlining his form. How could she have forgotten how beautiful he was...? She had to look away before he caught her staring.

"Hey, something I forgot to ask last time," she said. "If you're not from New York, where are you from? Like, were you carved from marble and brought to life by a god or something?"

Brooklyn smiled and shook his head. "Would you believe tenth-century Scotland?"

Loona laughed, but he didn't. "Wait, you're serious. How the hell does that work? Time travel? Inter-dimensional portal?

"Try a spell that puts you to sleep for a thousand years."

"Wow." She turned and leaned her back against the statue. "Maybe I should start calling you 'Sleeping Beauty' now," she teased.

"Don't you dare."

She shrugged. "Have it your way, Petrie."

Brooklyn rapped his knuckles on her shoulder and Loona laughed.

"I'm kidding!"

Brooklyn chuckled. He cleared his throat and added, "Look, Loona, I can't stay for long. I have to go back out on patrol again... And not here."

"Oh..." Loona's smile dropped. "Well... can't I come with?"

Brooklyn crossed his arms. "Well, I guess technically you can. I just don't know if you should. Could be dangerous."

"Dude, come on. My whole life is dangerous. I'm sure I can handle it."

Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. "You'd have to fly."

"R-right..." She gave a reluctant grin. "... Okay."

"You sure?"

"Yeah! Just gimme a sec..." She downed the last few swigs of her beer, smashing the bottle on the ground. "Let's do this!"