CHAPTER 7

Her feet moving through a quick sandy ground, she flees from the scene of two mysterious men slain by her. A foreboding thought lingered in her heart, as she runs back to her hidden shack. She looks around her home, throwing her dagger to the naked floor. She searches every corner of the room, and lifts up a cellar door.

‘Come out honey, its safe now, mama is here now,’ Flora says.

‘Are they gone?’ Enola speaks.

‘Yes honey.’

‘I was so scared mama.’

Flora Bradley and her thirteen-year-old daughter had no other choice but to leave their safe haven once more. The hunters and werewolves sought Enola’s timely demise. Enola shape-shifted into a human wolf like creature at age three, a hybrid child having the blood of a hunter and the genes of a wolf, the news went through the lands. Her fascinating nature seems a threat to their existence, and so repulsive they felt. Flora and Enola travel far away from Hobo to a land called Dahr Lotos. In their cryptic world, Enola stays hidden from the eyes of men as Flora works as a waitress in a tavern.

‘Where’s my ale?’ a drunk speaks to Flora.

‘On its way,’She says.

‘I would have you lie with me tonight,’ He says. He forcefully pulls Flora towards himself assaulting her.

‘Let me go!’She screams.

‘Unhand, the lady, Sir,’ a man speaks from a table nearby. He walks calmly as he approaches them. ‘I’m sure your sick wife awaits your presence at this late hour,’ he says. The drunk tries to hit him, but he impedes his fragile cocked fist, throwing him to the ground. He puts him out from his blurry vision.

‘Pay no mind, to the petty old drunk. I’m Dustin, Dustin Livingston. I haven’t seen you here before. What brings you to the land of filth and piss?’ he says.

‘Work,’ she replies as she walks back towards the bar. He holds her by the hand gently,

‘If you need anything, be sure to ask. I’m quite known around here, and very easy to find.’ He smirks.

‘Thank you, but I need no help,’ Flora says.

Back at Hobo.

‘Have faith father, he still lives, this I know.’ Declan says.

‘You live on false hopes my boy. If he be well, what has become of him all these years, that he forgets his people, his family? I have lost faith my son. He is never coming back home. He is dead- dead and gone.’ Earl speaks as he drinks his wine.

The hunters assemble; sitting as equals. They skim a plot to bring Flora and her abominable child back to Hobo. All yelling, Gregory looks at each hunter with disgust.

‘Patience people.’ Sir Gregory speaking. ‘We’ve tried every possible means to kill the child, but over time failed.’ He angrily slams the table, screaming at them all, being vexed by the continuous outcome of events. Then he poises and speaks calmly to them all.

‘It’s time for a different mode of approach.’

‘And what do you suggest?’E lvis Bradley asks.

He smiles at Elvis, ‘We play a game.’ He stands smiling as he takes his leave with an unknown visitor. They could see him whisper, “I shall bring them all to their knees”, he says.

Enola never ceases to ask for her father.

‘Mother, when is Papa coming home?’ she asks.

‘Papa will come home soon honey, his just really busy that’s all.’ Flora hides the mystery of Enola’s nature from her; though Enola quite knew she was different from other children her age, also Flora refusing to speak of anything which concerns her father. She kisses

Enola on her forehead and sings her to sleep.