Hunter

Chapter 15

          That was not normal. Not at all. His first turn had taken place during the day, but a day of full moon. His second turn, unfinished sure but still, defied every law about werewolves transformation. Why? The full moon had come and gone and yet... I was staring at my son asleep on the couch of the living room, and as much as I could think or rack my brain, everything remained confused and the ticking clock forced me to remember that time to go back to the agency was nearing.

I had no other choice but to take the children with me... This option worried me, however I could not leave them alone. What if Arthur went "to walk the dog" again? Besides, he had opened his brow when he had collapsed.

I sighed. What if he turned there? It was a risk and not the least... I got up a slid my arms under Arthur and lifted him. Would happen what would happen.

The journey between the house and the first paved road was long. There was only a bit more than a kilometer, but Arthur was no longer a baby and carrying him was not an easy task. Agate had to walk. Even though I knew her tired, she did not say anything.

When a car finally stopped in front of us, my arms where shaking with fatigue. They had started to paralyse and crouching in front of the door to help Agate to climb the two steps up into the cabin, one hand in her back, without completely letting go of her brother, did me some good. Far away, the sun had started its descent.

I closed the door and heard the whip of the coach driver. Slowly, the car moved. The accumulated tiredness almost put me to sleep several times, but I resisted.

"Daddy, where are we going?"

Agate had kept quiet upto that moment. For a little girl of her age, her patience was breathtaking. As patient as her mother.

Susanne...

How I wished she had been here.

"I must go to work, but I'm taking you with me because Arthur is tired and he can't look after you."

"But I could do by myself!"

A slight smile appeared on my lips when she frowned, outraged. I did not have time to answer. The car stopped.

"You go first, honeybun." I said to her.

I directed her in the hallways and we finally arrived to the right place.

"I'm here!" I said raising my voice.

There was no one in the main room where most of the desks could be found.

"About time." Henri grumbled.

He came out of the meeting room we had used earlier with my two other colleagues by his side and followed by Sophie.

When they saw my kids, their eyes went wide.

"What happened?" Bob asked.

They were all looking at the compress on the cut on Arthur's brow. Arthur who was still inconscious in my arms.

"Arthur fell and cut himself. I could not leave them at home.

I headed for a room we used for breaks or to wait. It was close to the meeting room and had three couches. I laid Arthur on one of those. A little hand clung to my trousers and pulled gently.

"Daddy, I'm hungry."

"Oh yes. Sorry, honey."

I could no longer feel my arms but still picked her up. She had walked all the way here, I owed her that much. I entered the kitchen and sat my daughter on the table in the middle of the room.

"I'll fix you something, alright?"

She nodded and moistened her lips.

"Are you kidding or something?! We don't have time for that, we need to prepare!" Henri shouted from the next room.

I heard Gaspard ask him to leave me alone, then Sophie appeared in the entrance of the kitchen. She took a few steps towards me and laid a kind hand on my arm which was already cutting some vegetables I had found laying around.

"I'll look after the kids. You can go."

She accompanied her sentence with an encouraging smile, and I gave her the knife I was holding.

"Merci."

I kissed Agate on her forehead and left the room.