Full moon part 4

After a short while, by the eastern wall that surrounded the palace, Bennett saw a fairly large building with bright yellow light coming out of its windows, painting the glistening streets a brighter color.

He swiftly landed down the street and in a blink of an eye, transformed into his human form. He then, wrapped his cloak around himself and headed for a sign that read in both letters: Taberbna Pub.

Tread with caution!

This property is under surveillance of the City Guard.

All heads turned as he entered the pub, probably because he was soaking wet. But there was too much noise and chatter going on for him to worry about weird strangers asking questions. The hood of his cloak was covering half of his face, and as for remaining unrecognised, he was quite certain his face would remain unknown.

He found himself a less crowded place by the bar, ordered some hot coffee and began to drink right away as the steam from the hot drink came out from under his hood like a chimney.

" Doesn't it bother you that the tip of your hood is practically in your coffee cup?"

Until that moment, Bennett had not noticed the young, blond-haired man sitting beside him at the bar. He tilted his head a bit to the right and saw a handsome stranger eyeing him intently from a few feet away. He answered his gaze and said, " Don't worry. The rain will clean it up."

The young man gave him a bitter smile and, looking as if he was talking to himself, said, " Damn this weather! It's going to rain all week."

A bit curious, Bennet responded, " I've heard snow is more common here."

"Yes. Well, there have been many uncommon things happening around here lately. This is nothing in comparison."

" What you mean?"

" Take a look around you."

Bennett took off the hood of his cloak and took a careful look around the pub. There were all kinds of strange creatures among the people: large, humanoid birds, werecats, lizardmen with scales and everything, common soldiers and even army officials. Bennett even spotted a werewolf too. But that was not an uncommon sight, even where he was from. Almost in every city, in the realm of the Nine Isles, there were neighbourhoods more populated by shapeshifters and half-bloods than humans. That was more logical than them associating with mortals.

Bennett turned to the stranger and said, " What's so uncommon? Aren't half-bloods supposed to come to Taberna more than other pubs in the city?"

The stranger replied, " That's not what I meant. I don't have anything against half-bloods or shapeshifters. I was hoping you would spot it right away."

" Spot what?"

The young man leaned in and almost whispered, " That man at the table by the door. He's wearing the same cloak as you. He looks sorf of... off, doesn't he?"

Bennet turned around and immediately recognised the unpleasant face of his boss, Big Thompson, which was now looking horrifically pale and pasty. He was almost certain being drunk had nothing to do with it. So he stood up to go and check on him. The stranger of got up with him, grabbed his arm and said, " Are are you out of your mind? He's sick, can't you see it? You should not go near him."

Bennett looked back at the young man and answered, " You may not believe it, but he's my boss! I have to know what's wrong with him. He was quite alright this morning when I last spoke with him."

He quickly reached Thomson's table, put a hand on his shoulder and waited for him to lift his head up. Thomson gave him a sickly, spiteful look and barely said, " What do you want?"

"What's happened to you, Thompson? Are you not feeling well? You look awfully pale."

"That's none of your damned business, boy."

" Where are the others? Have they left you alone here? Edgar? Summer? Weren't they supposed to be with you right now? "

" They don't take their orders from you, you winged moron!"

"Orders? What are you talking about? We're actors, not the castle guards!"

" Shut your mouth! If those two idiots hadn't left the city with the big wagon, they would teach you a lesson to remember!"

Suddenly, Thompson froze like a piece of dead rock. Bennett leaned in closer to his face and saw that he wasn't breathing. But stranger than that, was the colour of his eyes changing from light green to a sickly blue in a matter of seconds.

The stranger Bennett had met at the bar, ran toward him like a flash of lightning, grabbed him from behind and pulled him back with all his might.

All of a sudden, Thomson let out a frightening scream, pounced at one of the barmaids and sank his teeth in her flesh as she screamed and fainted in nervous shock.