Wisteria and the Pirate Werewolf

By April Marcom

Wisteria couldn’t have known her simple act of kindness to a lost witch would lead to the possession of a magical blue cloak.

She couldn’t have known that the greatest tragedy of her life would lead to her first kiss with a carnivorous werewolf.

And there was certainly no way she could have expected chasing a man, hidden by a cloak of darkness, would lead her and her ‘red riding hood’ sister to join a pack of pirate werewolves on an impossible quest to find a potion that would make them human, or that it would reunite her with the were-man who took her first kiss, and with it her heart, over a decade before.

Luckily, it’s exactly the sort of adventure Wisteria’s always dreamt of.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
• Release date: Mar 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781680462555

April Marcom

April Marcom works as a substitute teacher of all grades in her local schools, but her true passion is writing. When she's not teaching or creating stories, she's enjoying the country life with her car-obsessed husband and three fabulous children. She also enjoys rainy days, traveling, and her five very rowdy dogs. April grew up a southern bell in Mississippi, but is now a proud Oklahoman.http://aprilmarcom.weebly.com

Book preview

WISTERIA AND THE PIRATE WOLF

by April Marcom

While the tale of Little Red Riding Hood has been told in countless tongues on nearly every corner of our world, the enchanting tale of danger, darkness, and romance between her elder sister and a forbidden werewolf has been forgotten. The magical blue cape of invincibility and invisibility associated with this sister was lost. The quest she joined with a band of pirate werewolves to find a cure and chase her childhood love was utterly erased from living memory...until now.

Table of Contents

Wisteria and the Pirate Wolf

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

About the Author

Previews

Chapter One

~ Two Magical Gifts ~

The wind whistled as it rushed through spindly trees and beat against the woodland houses scattered outside the little village of Lampet. There was nothing special or out of the ordinary about the people who resided here. They were all farmers or woodcutters or spent their days doing some other humble job.

But on one very cold night, this would all change for two unsuspecting children.

An old witch by the name of Evanora had come to the area in search of a rare bird’s egg for one of her potions and lost her way back to her ship. She had no way of knowing that the gifts she would give away on this night would prove to shape the simple lives of two little girls into something more exciting, dangerous, and extraordinary than either could ever have imagined.

With the chill in the air and rain clouds approaching, her only thought now was to find shelter for the night. Six people had turned her down rather rudely before she wandered to the tall, porch-less home surrounded by dirt and dust. It reminded Evanora slightly of the house in which she’d grown up. Her feet were aching and her teeth were shivering when she knocked on the door.

The warmth of a burning fire greeted her when two girls answered it. One was pale with raven-colored hair; the other of a healthier tone with wavy blonde locks. They were young, perhaps twelve and ten. The blonde was the smaller of the two, but the first to speak up: Hello there.

Good evening, children, the old woman said in a wavering voice. I’m afraid I’ve lost my way without the assistance of the sun’s light. Could you spare a dry corner of your house that I might rest in for the night?

Oh, yes. Please, come in. The blonde gladly welcomed the company of the woman. The girls’ mother had gone to care for their ill grandmamma for the night and the younger sister was a bit nervous without an adult around.

I thank you most graciously, the witch said, coming in. I am Evanora.

My name is Rose, and my sister is Wisteria.

May we get you anything, Miss Evanora? Wisteria asked.

No thank you, dear. But perhaps I could rest for a moment beside the fire.

Of course.

Rose walked with her to the chair while Wisteria went to the kitchen.

Evanora set her heavy bag on the floor and took a seat in the rocking chair beside the fire. The inside of the house seemed drab with only a table and chairs beside one wall. Pots and spoons were stacked unevenly on one side of the fireplace, a tall pile of wood on the other. A good many cupboards hung crookedly in the back of the room and the great height of the roof allowed for a loft with beds and chests above their heads.

Our mother is famous in town for her baking, Wisteria said, as she handed a cherry pastry to Evanora. You must at least try one while you are here.

Bless your heart. Thank you, child. Evanora took the pastry, a girl now sitting on either side of her on the floor. It was possibly the most heavenly thing she’d ever tasted. Are your parents not here?

Our mother’s tending to grandmamma, Rose announced. And our father left long ago.

I’m sorry to hear that.

Evanora felt a deep affection for the little girls. She’d always loved children, and wished she had something to give to repay such kindness. She had nearly finished her pastry when she got an idea. Taking two knitting needles from her hair, the only magical things she had with her at the moment, she decided what she would make for the children. For your generosity, I would like to give you each a gift.

I love gifts, Rose said brightly.

But you have no yarn, Wisteria said. I could fetch some for you.

No need, dear. Evanora began clicking the sticks together, pulling luminous red thread right out of thin air and looping it together.

Rose gasped.

Wisteria leaned forward, staring in wonder at the fabric that was slowly appearing. How are you doing that? she asked.

Magic. Evanora winked at her.

Wisteria stared intently at Evanora’s fingers, trying to discover the trick, while Rose watched the witch’s face in awe, absolutely convinced of the woman’s power. Rose rested her head against Evanora’s knee.

I always wished for children of my own, the woman said. But I suppose it wasn’t meant to be. I do wish you girls could come and visit me one day.

Where do you live? Wisteria asked.

A magical island, far away from here, where half the land is covered in eternal darkness and half in never-ending light. Where I live, there is always sunshine and the magical creatures are uncorrupted. My sister has chosen to live on the dark side, however. I can’t imagine what she finds so appealing about her chosen homeland.

The island sounds amazing, Rose said with a yawn. Could we truly come and see you there?

Hmm...That would be tricky. Things are not always as they appear to be, making it difficult to find. And you would need a special compass that’s been bewitched to lead you directly to it. There is only one I know of in existence at present. It’s passed hands many times, and somehow ended up in the possession of Rome’s Caesar, last I heard. I’m afraid it is the only way you could visit me.

A beautiful red hood had fully formed and was now spreading into a cloak as well.

Rose yawned again and leaned further into Evanora’s lap. Won’t you tell us more about your island? she asked.

Perhaps you would like to hear about the frostlings. They’re tiny people with squeaky little voices who stand no taller than my knee.

Yes, please.

As Evanora told them of the icy air the frostlings emitted whenever they spoke, and then the willow wisps that could translate language between humans and animals, the girls’ eyes became heavier and heavier. It wasn’t long before she had a sleeping head on each leg.

She smiled as she put her true gift for Rose into the red hooded cloak, the gift of magic. Rose would receive whatever magical ability the cloak saw fit to give her once she put it on and called upon its power. The girl was so cheerful and full of life; Evanora was almost certain she would be able to fly, free as a bird. The cloak was a thick, silky texture that would glitter in the sun. It would also have to grow with the girl if it was going to last her forever. And indestructibility. Evanora protectively decided she would need that as well.

She had to wonder what ability Wisteria would receive as she added the ties to the red cloak’s neck. The older of the two was certainly more serious than her sister. Evanora sensed that she was sharper and saw the world through the eyes of a soul much older than was her body. The witch laid the bright red cloak over Rose and tied it loosely around her neck.

Then she began clicking away and a brilliant blue thread appeared. Line by line, a hood took shape. It would be of the same sun-sparkling material. She would have the same invincibility as her sister.

When Evanora had finally finished the blue cloak and was tying it around Wisteria’s neck, she felt a certainty that the cloak would play an enormous part in her life. She felt as if she were leaving a piece of herself behind for the sisters. It was a good feeling.

Carefully, and with a great deal of effort, she carried each of the girls up to their beds.

The witch required no sleep, so she spent the night rocking in front of the warm fire and imagining the girls’ reactions when they discovered what reward they had truly been given. She would be gone before they awoke, so she wouldn’t get the opportunity to see it.

She wondered if perhaps she would see the girls again one day. They would certainly stand a better chance of reaching the island with the cloaks’ protection.

She took the knitting needles from her hair again and stared at them thoughtfully. Perhaps just one more gift. With a snap of her fingers, sparks flew and both needles began to fold into small circles, each with an arrow fixed at the center. The witch was missing the bit of earth from the magical island that was required to draw the compass to it, but bewitching the charms to guide the girls to the compass that had that ability was no problem. There was just enough metal left over to manipulate into chains they could wear around their necks.

Evanora went upstairs to slip the necklaces on the girls. She watched them sleep for a moment. The sight of something so peaceful and so precious warmed her soul.

Good luck, my dears, she said quietly, until we meet again....

Chapter Two

~ Unwelcome Intruders ~

Wisteria sat up in bed with a start. She recognized the distinct growling of werewolves outside, fully transformed and ready to kill. It was something she hadn’t heard since the night of the attempted attack on her sister and grandmamma when Wisteria was only ten years old. She had hoped desperately to never hear it again.

Five years had passed since then, three since the night she’d been gifted her cloak. Though it had hardly left her body, neither she nor her sister had any idea what power the horrors of this night would unlock.

Wisteria got up silently and went to her mother’s bed which was only a few feet away. Mother, she whispered, shaking the woman’s arm. Wake up.

Her mother opened her eyes slowly. Have you had a nightmare? The howling that suddenly filled the night echoed unnaturally, alerting her to the reason her daughter had awoken her.

Rose jumped from her bed at the terrifying sound. Mother, she said, tears springing to her eyes. Her body filled with a terrible fear.

Their mother got out of bed and went to hug her. It’ll be all right, she told them. I want you both to hide underneath your beds while I get grandmamma.

Don’t leave us, Rose choked out.

You’ll be safe inside with the door locked.

What about you?

I’ll take the silver-tipped axe. You needn’t worry about a thing.

Rose continued to cry as her mother began to creep down the stairs. She was thirteen years old now, but still very much a child at heart.

Quickly, Wisteria said, grabbing Rose’s blanket and handing it to her. Both girls pulled their blankets over them as they climbed under their beds, being sure to cover themselves completely.

As the minutes passed by and the howling continued off and on, Wisteria felt horribly confined. It was like she would never escape and the awful night would never end. The weight of her blanket pressed inward against her, giving her the sensation that she couldn’t breathe. She shut her eyes tight and wished with all her heart that she could disappear from Lampet.

The scratching at the door made her open her eyes. Rose whimpered and Wisteria shushed her. The scratching became more desperate. Next there was a thunderous growl, a loud crack, and then the sound of the door being thrown open and hitting the wall.

Wisteria’s breathing became shallow as footsteps entered their home. She flinched when she heard things being ripped from the cabinets downstairs and thrown to the ground. There was a lot of snarling and smacking as something ate their food. Please, please let them eat it and leave, Wisteria thought, still holding onto her wish.

The unwelcome intruders ate quickly and were soon roaming through the house once more.

Wisteria couldn’t believe this was happening: a werewolf inside their home. It was perhaps her greatest fear, and it certainly was Rose’s.

The movement ceased. Wisteria felt a dash of hope.

And then she heard something clambering up the stairs. The heavy feet beat like drums playing a death march. Her fear was enough to steal away all her breath. Heavy footsteps moved to her mother’s bed, where the blankets were ripped to shreds.

Then Wisteria heard something sniffing vigorously like a dog that had caught a new scent in the air. Suddenly, her bed was lifted and thrown over the edge of the loft. Wisteria’s blanket was removed and two giant werewolves with glittering black eyes and enormous fangs were standing over her. She tried to scream, but found herself frozen in a state of shock.

The hairy beasts growled softly in their throats as they walked past her. She watched in horror as one of the wolves reached for Rose’s bed next. Wisteria felt like a statue watching it all through someone else’s eyes. The bed was tossed downstairs easily, splintering to pieces and causing the entire house to quake.

Rose screamed when her blanket was taken from her. Her arms reached out for anything as her body rose on its own at alarming speed, hitting the ceiling with a dull thud. Rose looked petrified as she moved clumsily around until she was turned upside down.

One wolf leapt as he took a swipe at her, grazing her cloak and doing it no harm.

Rose screamed again as she shot through the air and went headfirst into the wall above the door.

The wolves jumped to the first floor and raced over to wait below her.

She went sailing through the air again, this time spinning uncontrollably as she went through the window behind Wisteria. The wolves chased her up the stairs and through the opening, and then Wisteria was alone.

She managed to press her hands against the floor to help her stand and discovered what had made the werewolves pass her over. Her hands were not there. Her legs were gone, too. Wisteria heard the frightening howling outside again as she pressed her hands against her stomach and back. She could feel them, but couldn’t see anything.

The fog in her head increased. Her racing heart sped up even more. Whatever breath she had in her body caught in her throat as her body became numb. She could feel herself falling, but was already gone before her body hit the floor.

* * * *

Has she been bitten? Wisteria heard a girl say. Her eyes were so heavy; she couldn’t bring herself to open them.

I don’t think so. She looks to be herself, a woman said.

Then what is she doing out here?

Wisteria opened one eye just enough to see that it