Pente (BxB werewolf story)

06 - Nathan

The colorful crowd of the party rushed their way out as a second bird arrived out of the circle of flame. The bird gave out an ear-wrecking screech as it perched near its mate over the dead body of the man in green.

Absolute chaos erupted in the ballroom as everyone started to scream and run away from the predatory birds.

Edgar glanced at the boy who was now unconscious in his arms and then at the bird approaching them, his heart racing. It's craggy, black wings were so huge that as they flapped them their shadow darkened over both Edgar, the unconscious boy and several magic users trying get out of the disruption. Its eyes were a blood red, glaring wickedly at everything around them.

Had Edgar focused more on them, he would've noticed that they were the color of the Tanzanian ruby in the necklace they found with their mother.
The creature neared them, with its razor-sharp beak open, aiming for the unconscious boy. Edgar stared, frozen at the bird's red eyes for a moment. But then he realized what was about to happen and willed his gift to emerge. A dome of fire rose around them, the flames roaring in their wake, immediately catching the crow's feathers. The burning bird flapped his wings with a deadly cry. The fire caught on quickly, roaring around it, filling the air with smoke that smelled like burning meat.

As a huge phoenix surrounded by flames, the crow fell on the marble floor, writhing as it burned alive.

Making his way towards his brother through the commotion, Paul grabbed a sword from the sheath of a warlock dressed as a soldier. Without any hesitation whatsoever, he lunged at the other bird, who was squawking at its burning companion. The sharp blade of the sword connected with its throat, severing it's head clean off its neck. The mighty head flew through the air in an ark from the force of the blow, spinning like a boomerang due to the beak and fell with a crash in front of Elliot and his companion. Both of them let out a scream as the blood from the head splattered them.

Edgar took the chance to scramble away from the burning bird with the unconscious boy in his arms. The bird had stopped writhing, and a guttural whine rang from its throat. Eventually it faded to the cackle of the flames that burned the body to embers.

The people stood where they ended up at after running around, staring at the scene. Paul stared at his brother along with them, still holding the sword that dripped blood on the pristine marble floor.

Elliot let go of his companion and walked forward.

"Party's over warlock people!" He announced, his voice ringing through the shocked silence. "I suggest you exit the premises immediately before more of those monsters can appear!" 

The magical people needed no more encouragement. They rushed off the hall as fast as their legs could take them, chattering at each other excitedly about the events that had just taken place.
The woman in pink, who the brothers were still to know the name of, raced towards Edgar and knelt on the ground. Taking the hand of the unconscious boy into hers, she whispered in his ear hurriedly, "Nathan"

Edgar supposed that was the name of the boy. He held the boy, supporting his torso with his own arms and one crooked leg as he sat on the floor while the woman let go of his hand and placed her palms over the wound on the left side of his stomach. Then she closed her eyes and started to chant in a language unknown to the werewolf. Pink sparks arose from her fingers, spiraling above the boy's stomach. Edgar felt the boy's weak body thrum with a strange energy. The paleness in his cheeks disappeared under the soot that blackened it, turning rosy. His pulse quickened, and his heart beat steadily.  

"Aradia," Elliott addressed the woman. "Is he alright?"

She nodded, standing up and looking at Edgar in the eye for the first time of the evening. Aradia held a power that made Edgar want to trust and obey the woman. Maybe it was just her warlock shimmer. "Take him to a bedroom. Elliot will lead you. We must let him rest." And with that she turned away and was walking away from them, more into the house.