- The document is a collection of stories and conversations recorded by B.B. about his travels with Maddues Thorn, a mysterious figure. - Thorn shared about his childhood in Italy, being born on a "Blood Harvest Moon" to a wealthy British archaeologist father and Italian noblewoman mother. - While visiting his father's archaeological dig site in Istanbul at age 13, Thorn experienced a terrifying night of screams, laughter, and gunshots where both of his parents were killed in an explosion, leaving him as the sole survivor.

1. -ForewordbyB.B(Bram Brascott)
“Dear reader,contained is a collection of the traveling’s of ourmutualfriend MadduesThorn and records
of conversationswiththeactualman,during ourtime traveling together.MadduesThorn isa namethat
is shrouded in the mystery of time, commonly used among conspiraciesand bedtimetales.Overthe
decadesI havededicated my life to recording as much as possibleto learn and understand theman.
Howeverpublic knowledgeisstill very little. Only recordshere and there, a brief mention in a passage
within a scribe’s memoirs,a rumorfromlandsfaraway,all of which I have also compiled here to the best
of my own workingsand nowfading memory.However,theman will nevertruly be gonefrommy
memory.No thatis like forgetting one’sown nameorthe facesof siblings.Caution dearreader,for the
moreyou learn aboutMaddues,themoreyou shalllearn of the world that lay slightly beyond ourown,
this I cannothelp.I only askyou take this all into consideration,and Ishall recantto you asall was
explained and told to me. May God Bless England,ourcountry,and mankind. –Etched B.B. London,Year
of Our Lord 1897. [Inscriptionaddedata laterdate] –To Maddues,whereveryou are,remembereven on
the darkestnight,themoon illuminatesour path.Shedanceswith us, ourcelestial mother.Whatare all
men but beastswithin?
The ChroniclesofMaddeusThorn
-While mostof Thorn’searly life is shrouded in the samemystery,during oneof ourtavern visits at a
local pub,Maddeusopened up abouthischildhood.Thiswasnotsomething easily forgotten afterbeing
told,and at the time ouracquaintance wasshort,so Ialso had troublebelieving the tale myself.If only I
wasstill as naïve…-B.B.
MaddeusThorn wasborn inthe year1762 to a wealthyBritish archaeologistand hisItalianwife
of highnobility. Theysaidthe bloodof ancientTroyran inher veins,atrue Roman.Thorn’sfather had

2. falleninlove withherinhisearlieryears, visitingItalyforataste of the Romanticismof the age.Instead
foundhimself deeplyinlove withanobleman’sdaughter.Since Maddeus’sfatherwasrespectedasa
well-knowndoctorand soonthe twowere married.Theyfoundtheysharedthe same passions,mostly
archaeology,history,andtravel.Thorn’smother’sfamilyalsohadbeenverysuperstitious,atrait
Maddeus’sfatherdidnotshare and hismotherkeptmostlytoherself.Fora while theytraveledthe
world,restingonlyfora bitduring Maddeus’sbirth.Hismothertoldhimhe wasborn underthe Blood
HarvestMoon, an ominoussign,asinher beliefsthiswasthe time whenAries,the Godof War, raged
battle againstthe mightof Hades andhislegionsfromthe underworld.Maddeusgrew upeducated,
seeingthe worldashisfathertraveled,attendingsome of the bestschoolsinItalywhile he wasathome
withhismother.HoweveritwasmythologythatfascinatedMaddeus,he wasprone toreadancient
tomesandvolumesaboutZeus,the oldgods,the furies,all of the oldtalesAristotlehimselfcould
recount.By the time Thornwas 12, he was fluentineightlanguages,includingLatin,English,Frenchand
Russian. He had hismother’sintelligence hisfatherwouldoftensay.Itwason his13th
birthdaythat
MaddeusThorn’slife changedforever.Hisfatherwasinformedof anew digsite,some ancientruinin
the landsof Istanbul,anancientcitythatwas believedtohave beennon-existent.The TurkishEmpire,
duringitsmany raids,hadsupposedlybroughtbacktreasuresfromall overthe worldtothislostcity.It
was evenbelievedthatancientweaponsandtechnologyof greatpowerwere hiddeninthe city,butto
an expertarchaeologistlike Mr.Thorn,itwas the historythat mostinterestedhim.He toldhisfamilyof
thisplanto travel to a townoutside of Istanbul andto helpexcavate thisrare find.Maddeus’smother
immediatelyspokeoutagainstthe idea,usingherintuitiontoclaimthatthiswasa badidea.Thorn’s
fatherhowevercalmedherdown, andevensuggestedthatthe whole familyleave Italyforafew
monthsand travel withhimtothe ancientsite.Thorn’smotherreluctantlyagreedandwithinaweek
theywere ontheirwayto Istanbul.AsThorn staredouthiscarriage window he saw the large blood
moonin the skythat night.Histhoughtsturned to the God of War, silentlywonderingif hismother’s

3. storywas true,whose bloodwasitthat stainedthe moon? –Side Note ByB.B.‘At thispointThorn
became silentandalookpasseduponhisface the type I have neverseenbefore,aknowledge of the
worldbeyondworlds.Andhe wasstuckbetween.Thornsatsilentfora few momentsbutfinishedhis
drinkand continued’...
Mr. Thorntook hisbrave little boyandhissuperstitiousmothertothisnew country,aworld
unseenbya youngBritishboy.The sunwas hot,thankfullyhe hadadoptedsomewhatof hismother’s
deepolive skin,andhiscomplexiononlybecamealighttaninsteadof the red burnhe had seenon
manyof hisschool matesduringsummerdays. Butcomparedto these local boyshe was pale and
strange.Mr. Thorn immediatelyhadtheirtentsetoutnearthe excavationsite andthe familytook
afternoontea,mostof whichMr. Thornspentpuzzlingovertextsandbookshe hadbeengivenupon
theirarrival.Meanwhile Mrs.Thornfussedoverherboy’sdressapparel andspoke silentlyinhernative
tongue,scoldingherhusbandfornotpayingattentionandherboyfor gettinghimself dirtysoearlyon.
It had notbeenhisfault,the windhadpickedupand blownsandall overhim.Old.The dirthad tasted
old,Maddeusrecalled,itwasa strange and foreigntaste.Ittastedalmostof blood,sadness,cruelty. –
B.B.- At thispointMaddeusbegandrinkingheavily…
So the nextfewmonthstheylivedinIstanbul,his fatherrarelyspeakingof hiswork,anunusual
change in hisfather,whousuallyspoke abouthisworktothe pointwhere Maddeuswouldbe unable to
understanddue tohisfather’seccentricity.He recalledthathisfatherandmotherhadbegunto argue
more than usual,stoppingwheneverMaddeuswasnear,andcontinuingwhentheybelievedhimgone.
His motherwouldoftensobandgrab herhusband,whoseemedunable tocomfortherwouldjusthold
herin hisarms. Maddeusbeganto wanderaroundthe campsite and soonfoundhimself exploringeven
further.If hismotheror fatherhad seenhim, he wouldhave definitelybeenintrouble,howeverno
trouble couldcompare tothe stuffyairof that confiningtent.Maddeushadreadthroughhisbooks
three timesoverandthe outdoorshelda mysticismforhimthatcouldnot be quelled.Once he evenhad

4. made it as far as the cityof Istanbul itself,wanderingthe outskirts,takinginthe sights.Anoldwoman
had caught hiseye,she wasdrapedina fur,whichwas unusual asevennearingwinteritwaswarm.
Whenshe noticedhimobservinghershe hadsmiled,showingperfectwhite teeth, too white,butthe
smile wasfriendly.She beckonedMaddeustocome closer.WhenMaddeusfoundthe courage to
approach close enoughtothe woman, she grabbedhishandand twisteditupwards,staringathispalm.
She gazedsilentlyatitfora minute before beginningtochuckle.The chuckle made Maddeusnervous
and he snatchedhishandaway fromthe woman.Now gettinga goodlookat her face, he realizedwas
she was notold,but muchyounger.Perhapseveninthe beginningof hermiddleyears,she stilllooked
strongand attractive.The woman noticedthatshe had startledthe boyandagain flashedthose white
teeth.Hernextwordsto himhad senthimfleeingtothe campsite-B.B.‘Afteralongtime,quite afew
pounds,andsomewhatlessthanlegal meansIwasable to acquire a bookthat containedwhatthe
womanhad saidto Thorn to sendhimrunning.The wordsare as follows You arechosen.Itis a great
honorto meet one so young withsuch a fate.Like the paw of a wolf,yourhand curls in mine.Little wolf
boy.Born on a blood moon.’
Maddeushad toldbothhisfatherand motherwhatthe womanhadtoldhim, and thoughhismother
had seemedconcerned(and hadscoldedhimforenteringthe townalone andwithouttellinganyone)
aboutthe woman’swords,she didnotconsiderthemimportant.The mutteringsof acrazy woman,
bakedinthe sun, hismotherclaimed,hisfatherseemeddistant.He hadsmiledatMaddeus andtoldhim
not to worryaboutsome crazy woman,thoughMaddeusfelthisfatheralmostdidn’t trusthim.Itmade
himupsetthat hisfatherhadchangedso much aftercomingto the excavationsite hisparentsfeltto
talkabout onlybehindhisback.Before Maddeusfellasleepinhishammockthatnighthe remembered
thinkingthathe wouldfindanswersthe followingday.
It was the screamsthat woke hisparents,butitwas the laughterthat hadawokenMaddeusa few
momentsearlier,paralyzinghimwithfear.Thengunshotsringingout.Hisfatherawoke ina panic,Mrs.

5. Thorn inconfusion.Maddeuscouldnotmove,itwasas if ice had replacedbloodinhisveins. Whatwas
laughing like that,WHO could laugh like that until the lightof a lamp andthe reassuringface of his
fathergave himcourage again. He jumpedoutof hisbed,andfollowinghismotherandfatheroutof the
tent.The air was dark,choking,andthe gunshotswere gettingcloser.Butthe screams were close.A
lookpassedoverMr. Thorn’sface Maddeus hadnot seenbefore.Itwassomethinghe hadfeltwhenhe
heardthe laugh.Pure horror. It lastedonlyamomentandtakinghiswife andhisson’shand,quickly
leadingthemtowardsthe excavationsitewithhaste.Theymade theirwaythrougholdcorridors, tools
cast about as if ina panic.Someone or something hadcome throughearlierandthe workershadleftin
obvioushaste.Mrs.Thorn’sconfusionhadcompletelyvanished,replacedbya motherlyfury,the
instinctual protectionof heryoung.She grabbedMaddeusclose toherand reassuredhimeverything
wouldbe okay.Maddeushad believedherandhuggedhertight,evenasthe grenade bouncedfrom
above andshe turnedtoshieldhimfromthe explosion.
DarknessovertookMaddeusandhe feltpain.Atfirsthe thoughthe was dead,butafter a raspinggasp,
he realizedhe wasstill alive,andcompletely,utterlyalone.He hadsatup, thoughitwas painful todo
so,and triedto processthe eventsthathad justoccurred.It had beenafull moonthat night.A dark
haze had lingeredoverthe sky. He hadawokenfroma nightmare.A dimlightwhichhe soonrealizedto
be moonlightallowedMaddeustobegintoslowlymake hiswaythroughthe oldruins.The explosion
collapsedthe floorunderneathMaddeus’sfeet,the fallingwasthe lastthinghe remembered.Thatand
the desperate clutchof hismotherto shieldhimfromharm.Maddeusknew deepinside thatgrenade
had killedthemboth,hisfatherhadtriedtogive theman escape route andhismotherhad givenhislife
for his.Maddeusrealizedthatbesideswhatseemedlike abrokenarmand a few bruises,he was
relativelyokay. Ashe hadfell whathadseemedlike fortypacesdown,he consideredhimself luckytobe
alive.Maddeusstooduponlytofeel a sharp,cuttingpaininhis thigh.He struggledinthe darkand
removedapiece of metal,mostlikelyshrapnel fromthe grenade.Maddeusslidthe metal intohis

6. pocket. He had landedinwhatfelt like asoftmoss,hisclotheswere dampeitherfromwater…orblood.
Determinedly,Maddeussoughttofindaway out,howeverthe darkdidnot give way.Afterlimping
alonga wall for a bit,the path turnedpitchblack.Still Maddeus tookstepafterstepforward,feeling
coldstone beneathhisfeet.Witheverystep,Maddeusthoughthe would fall intosome evendeeper
crevice,fromwhichhe wouldnotreturn.A faintbreeze rustledMaddeus’shairandhe lookeduptosee
the returnof the dimlight,faintlyglowinginthe distance.Maddeusforcedhimself tomove,itwasnow
late inthe night.The lightshone throughaslightcrack in whatappearedtobe a giganticstone wall.
Maddeusalmostcalledforhelp,butrememberedthe gunshots. Andthelaughter.He grimlyclutchedat
the wall and felthisface wetwithtears.Ina simple moment,hisworld hadchangedforever.Orat least
it wouldchange soon…
Maddeusdidnot fall victimtoself-pityforlongandfoundhimselfwalkingalongthe stone corridor
(whichhe hadrealizedwhenthe moonlightshonethroughmore cracksinthe stone) almostlike itwas
leadinghim.A pathwayout,Maddeushoped,butfornow,the dim moonlightwashisonlyguide. It
carrieda reddishhue,illuminatingthe dustandwhile allowingThornmore sight,atthe same time made
himuncomfortable.He continuedto treadonfor what seemedlike aneternity,the dimmoonlight
became brighter, nowadark red, and Maddeusfeltthe rushof freshair.He wasclose to groundlevel.
He beganto move quickly,tryingtofindanexit.Insteadhe stopped.The moonlightwasnow very
strong,as holeshadbeencarvedintothe wall to allow ittoshine through.Itilluminatedalarge dome
room,litteredwithstatuesof menandwomen,ancientstone carvings.The carvingsseemedalmost
alive,asthe stone figuresdancedwithlifelike stone wolves,andinthe verycenterof itall,a large statue
of a wolf onitshindlegs.It lookedalmosthuman,keepingthe natural state of itsanimal self,agiant
wolf ontwo legs.The teethwere carvedwithsuchprecisionthatMaddeuscouldnothelpbutreachout
and touchthem.He cut himself onthe stone,andblooddrippedontothe coldstone causingMaddeus
to lookdown.The moonshifted,asif byits ownwill,givingthe objectalittle more light.Itwasthe most

7. magnificentscythe,almostaslarge as the statue,a pale blue sheenof metal likeMaddeushadnever
seenbefore.Hisownbloodhaddroppedontothe scythe’sblade andbendingdown,Maddeuscould
make out runescarvedintothe scythe itself.Almostinstinctively,Maddeusreachedoutandbrushedhis
fingersonthe runes.Somethinglike ashockran throughMaddeus,hisvisionexplodingwithlight.Asthe
shockran throughhisbody,Maddeusrememberedfeeling alive.Notthe normal,dayto day feelingyou
mightfeel duringthe rare,sunnydaysinLondon,buta differentsort.AgainMaddeusfell,butthistime
not intorushingdarkness,butarushinglight.A voice calledtohim, itsoundedlike the womanhe had
metin the town.The one who hadknownwhenhe had beenborn. Little wolf child, you are chosen.
Little wolf child born of a blood moon…
WhenMaddeusawoke again,dawnwas breaking.Thistime he wasasleeponapile of leaves,the
middle of apine forest.Hisfirstthoughtwasthat it hadall beena terrible dream, possiblycausedby
runningintosomethingwhile inthe forest.He wouldrushbackto the campsite andthere wouldbe his
father,smiling,waitingtotell himaboutsome historical event,hismothersingingsoftlytoputhimto
bed.The sharp metal fragmentinhispocketremindedhimwithapoke thatitwas nodream.Neither
was the large scythe that laynexttoMaddeus,gleamingdangerouslyinthe firstlightof the morning.
Maddeusgrabbedthe scythe,almosthalf expectinganotherjoltlikeearlier.Insteadthe large scythe felt
lightinhishand,unusual forsuch a large weapon.Maddeustooka few expertswingsthroughthe air
withthe scythe,withgraceful ease.Maddeushadneverusedascythe inhislife.Howeveritseemedthat
he handledthisone justfine,andwithanew foundconfidence,he figureditwouldalsowardoff any
unwantedpresence.He admiredthe blade andstoodinawe as the sunreachedoverthe mountains,the
blade seemedtodisappearintoitself,like waterdropletsdrippingfromglass.Leftbehindwasthe
ornate handle.Thornsuddenlyrememberedhisparentsandgraspingthe handle close,rantothe
campsite.*Note byB.B.on Maddeus’sscythe*-ThoughThornkeptaclose eye onit at all times,Ihad
several chancestoobserve andstudythe scythe,toMaddeus’sresentment.He once calledit‘apart of

8. him’and I myself have seenitsmysticism(Whichwe willdiscussfurtherin) anduse incombat.It isa
devastatingandbeautifulweaponatthe same time,the blade of some otherworldlymetal,perhapsthat
foundnearthe moon’score as some have speculated. Whetherornotthisistrue isspeculationbutthe
carvingsare whatreallycapture the eye.Bysome sharp object(fangorclaw?) the metal had been
intricatelycarved,the carvingsresemblingwhatone maysee onancientMayan stonework.Youwould
alsosee facesof wolves,orpacks runningalongthe handle,all carefullyandmasterfullydone.Withthe
blade attached,itstoodabout9 feethigh,afearful andawe-inspiringsight.Itwasalmostartisticthe
timesIsaw Thorn use the scythe and how as he had mentioned,he handleditwithgreatease and
precision-
Maddeuslimpedalongadirtpath, hopingtofindsome helporsomeone whomightbe able to
showhimwhere he was.He leaneduponthe silvercane whichhadonce beenan enormousscythe,and
thoughhiswoundshurtand seemedtobleed,Thornrealizedhow luckyhe wastobe alive.The wounds
were boundandso far no infectionhadsetin. Maddeuswalkedalongthe dirtroaduntil he smelled
somethingfamiliar.A horse,BrownChestnut,ithadbeenstabledinthe thirdstall atthe campsite.At
firstthe thoughtof the campsite andfindingoutif there wasanypossibilityof hisparentssurviving.It
had thenstruckhim oddhe remembered these things,andhow/why,untilhe heardthe nickeringof that
verysame horse behindhim.Uponthe horse sat a man, Russianfeaturesanddress,butsomethingwas
not quite right. Inthe nearingtwilightMaddeussaw the man’seyeslightupwithannoyance andcruelty.
His horse hadangeredhimand he had nomore time forone more stragglerboy.Here Thorn recalledto
me the feelingof the change forthe firsttime.He had feltitas the sun lowered,asinkinginhisstomach,
a heightenedsense of everythingaroundhim.Andclarity,sightwaseasytohim, smellsfromthe earth,
the metallicshoesof the horse,the aftershave and cheapcologne the soldierhadusednightsbefore,
probably toseduce some taverngirl.The chestnutseemedtorealizeimpendingdangerand rearedout
of fear,thistime throwingthe soldiercompletelyfromhissaddle.The soldierfellto the groundwitha

9. crash, the chestnutbaytaking off downthe darkeningroad. Thorn felthisbodyjerk,hisbonessnapping
and realigning,histeethgrowingrapidly,fillinghismouthwithbloodastheycutintohisgums.The
bonesinhisface beganto shiftand Thornfell,clutchinghisface until he noticedthe blackfuronhis
arms. It grewquicklyandsoonencompassedhisentire body.Duringthistransformation,the soldierhad
fireda roundat the stranger whowasundergoingsome darkcurse.The roundfounditsmark, inthe
fullyrisenchestof MaddeusThorn,onlyMaddeusThornnow stood eightfeettall,hisface nolongerhis
own,the elongatedface of a wolf.Hisyellow eyesburnedwithan unholyfury,histeeththe size of
blades. A growl rumbledfromthe pitof Thorn’sstomach,as the bullethole seemedtojustdisappear.-
B.B. Though ittookyears of practice, Thorn waseventually ableto somewhatcontrolthese
transformationsand placehimself within the body of the ‘werewolf’.Thoughheresembled moreof a
giganticblack bipedalwolf.The beast-likenaturewashard forMaddeusto tame,especially when
angered,and atthis first transformation,thebeasthad allcontrol—B.B. Thornslowlyflexedhishands.
Excepthis handswere no longerhuman,instead blackpawswithlong,razorsharpclaws. The soldier
franticallytriedtoreloadhisrifle howeverThorn’sanimal instincthaddrivenhimtoleapatthe soldier
withabnormal speed.Withaswing,hisclawsshearedthroughchain,clothandflesh.The soldierfell,
almostinpieces,tothe ground,a shockedandconfusedlookstill twisteduponhisdeadface.AsThorn
turnedtowardsa rustlingnoise he heardinthe distance,he suddenlyrememberedthe prisonersfrom
camp. Grippingthe staff,he wasnot surprisedtosee the blade rematerialize,orsnapback intobeing,as
if springingfromsome other-worldlyplace. Thorn’sweaponhadreturned. Hisfirstswingcutthe firstten
soldiersfoolishenoughtocharge inwithbayonets,the secondawhirlwindthatdecimatedastone wall
that stoodinthe wayof whathe sought.His earsfilledwiththe shoutsandcursesof angryRussian
soldiers,butagainhe recalledatime agothat there again, somethingwasstrange abouttheiraccent.He
wouldhave nevernoticedthisbefore,butnow he evenheardthe lungsmove asthe soldiersrantofind
combat positions.Eventhe quietthumpsof the heartbeatsof the soldiers,quickeningashe moved

10. closer,the soundof fear.A secondgroupof soldiersappeared,formedranks,andfireduponhim. The
bulletsburnedasthey hit,butagaintheyonly passedthrough him, muchtothe dismayof the soldiers,
and onlyfurtherenragingthe wolf-likecreature thatnow chargedtowardsthem.Claw,fang,andscythe,
Thorn wasunstoppable.A small unit of soldiersmanagedtofire acannonintohischest,and for a
secondMaddeusbelievedhe washurt,butagain,he arose unharmed.He threw hisscythe at them,and
it cut the groupof soldiers,alongwiththe cannoninhalf.Thornretrievedhisbloodiedscythe and the
rage seemedtoquietinhismind.He saw the excavationsite.Hismindflashedbacktohisparents,and
Maddeusfoundhimself nolongeramonster,buta tearful boy.He threw the scythe to the groundand
rushedtowardswhere he hadlastseenhismother andfather.But he neverdidsee themagain.
(Atthis pointa brawlhad broken outin thepub and we were forced outside.Thorn did not wantby the
off chancethe brawlmoved to our table,a much more seriousincident occurring.)
Maddeussuddenlyfeltthe strongsurge justlike grippingthe handlerunthroughhisback.He felt
himself beginningtochange again,onlythistime he controlledhimself.He lookedforsome reasonfor
hisdisturbance butsawonlythe moonpeekingoutfrombehindthe clouds,illuminatingthe carnage he
had justinflicted.Butthere wasa sentinthe air,pungentanddense.It remindedMaddeusof acarcass
that had beenleftinthe sun.Maddeuspickedupa soldier’srifle thatlayathisfeetandpulledbackthe
trigger.He rememberedaprayerhismotherhadoftenrepeatedtoherself inLatin,“Fideslibertas,Lux
circumstansnos…”We are Free becauseLight surrounds us. The wordsfell hollowlyrepeatedonthe
wind,asif Thornwas beingmocked.He liftedthe rifle higher,andprayed faster.Itwasthenhe saw him.
Nota man,but a manlike figure,hiddeninthe darklike ashadow.It stoodonlyyardsaway from
Maddeus,butit seemedtobe wearingthe darklike acloak,its coattailsstretchingandseekinginthe
non-existentwind.Itmade eye contactwithMaddeus,if itcouldbe eye contact,the face was black,only
whenitsmileddidMaddeussee the tworowsof razor sharp teeth.Itwas crouchedoverthe bodies,as
if feeding.Thenitspoke.

11. “Such bad mannersfora dinnerhost.Your rage and angerhas providedme withthe feastIneed. Not
bad fora newalphalycanthrope”The moondisappearedbehindawall of blackas the shadow grew
largerand larger.Maddeusfiredthe rifle,butthe bulletonlyflew throughthe nightsky.The shadow
movedquicklytoenvelopMaddeus,whothrew hisarmsupto defendagainstthe incomingattack.Butit
nevercame.The mooncame fullyfrombehindthe clouds,afull moon.The shadow screechedasif
burned,andMaddeussaw hisscythe at hisfeet,the blade fullyextendedandadark, redaura that
seemedtospark.Maddeuspickedupthe scythe and swungitat the shadow,whichhadwhirledaround
for a secondattack. The blade didnotreach the shadow,itwas a surge of the redenergyfromthe
scythe that knockedthe shadowback,causingitto roar in angerand pain,itsteethglisteningwithwhat
appearedtobe blood.Itmovedtowardsa corpse andwent inside. Witha blast of energythatknocked
Thorn off hisfeet,boththe corpse andthe shadow hasdisappeared.Maddeussighedwithrelief.
Whateverthatthingwas,it was gone now.He turnedto continue hissearchthroughthe excavated
cavernshisfatherhad takenthemthrough,onlyto watch as the stonescrumbledinward,the site
seeminglyconsumingitself,stonedisappearedintosandandthe groundshook.Maddeusfell overand
gainedfooting,butitwasalreadytoolate.The landscape hadalmostchanged.Nosignof bodies,
excavatingtools,eventhe site itself wasgone.Butwhere?Thorntriedtomake sense of whathad
happened,butthatcoldlaughterkeptgnawingawayat the inside of hismind.
-B.B. Maddeusfellsilent here.To continue,I managed to salvage scrollsin an old laboratory.Thescrolls
contain Thorn’sown recollection of whathappened afterthecreaturehad attacked.-
What was I?What…what wasall of this?It seemedsonormal atthe time,instinctual.Those men,Ikilled
all those soldiers.Buttheykilledmyparents.No,the laughterkilledmyparents.All thesethoughtslost
amongdarknessas I feltdraggeddown,asif throughicy water,darknesseverywhere.Suddenlyalight.
Dim,silver,thenbrilliant.The moon,aladyof the moon.Her dressseemedmade of pure starlight.She
kissedmyforehead.

12. “Little wolf boy,born of a blood moon…”
I awoke to the soundof rushingwaterand the mouth-wateringsmellof fryingmeat. Myheadfeltlike I
had drankthe whiskeymyfatheroftenkepthiddeninhisoffice,deepunderfilesandscatteredpapers.
As myeyesightclearedIrealizeditwasdaytime again,andIwas lyingbya stream.The womanfrom the
village Ihadmetwas sittingnearby,cookingaslabof beef ona small blackironpanovera fire.Wasshe
real?AsI stood uphungrily,she metme withanalmostamusedlookuponherface.
“Hungry?That will happenafterchanges.”She saiditwithsuchnormalcy.I saidnothing,onlysatdown
and acceptedthe meal offeredtome.Iate so quicklymystomachfeltqueasyafterwards,thoughI
cannot sayfor sure whetherornot itwas the meal,or how it remindedme of the fleshmyteethhad
torn through,the taste of metal andbloodcombininginmymouth.The womanseemedtonotice my
unease andpassedme a small leatherpoucharoundherneck.It wassome bitterliquid,butiteasedmy
stomachand made my headclear.She smiled,those teethshining.
“My ownrecipe made fromthe extractof wolfsbane,aplantthatgrows abundantlyaroundhere.Itis
alsohighlytoxic.”She almostlaughedasIbeganto sputterthe liquidoutof mymouthand continued,
“However,for usit has the opposite effect, easinganyaliments,fromwoundstoevencoughs.The best
ispickedduringa full moon.That’swhentheyreachtheirfull potency.Ifinditveryeffectivethe day
aftera transformation.”
“You saidus,” I inquired,“Who..Whatthe hellamI?”The womantookthe pouch back and placedit
aroundher neck.
“I believeMaddeusThorn?FromwhatI read inyour palmthat is.Asfor whatyou are,that is something
different.Youwere chosen.Destiny,fate,the stars,whateveryou choose tobelieve butyouhave been
grantedthe powerof the wolf sightandthe blessingof the Ladyherself.”The womanpickedupthe
metal staff onthe groundnearbyand swungit aroundin herhands.She smiledagain,

13. “Ah suchbeauty,butthisis notmine to wield.”She tossedthe staff tome unexpectedly.Icaughtit
instinctively,the scythe blade againmaterializingasif hiddenbysome magic.The woman’seyes
narrowed,remindingme of the packsof wolvesthatwouldsometimesroamaroundour campsat night,
howlingandsearchingforanyfoodthat wanderedtoofarfrom the camp.
“I can see youare still uneasy.If Iwantedtoharm you I wouldhave done soalreadydon’tyouagree?
Perhapsif I explainwe canavoidanyunpleasantness.”The wayshe drew outthe last wordgave me
chills.Itseemedmore of athreatthan a request.Iplacedthe scythe onthe groundand againthe blade
disappeared. Sittingdownuponahollow log withthisstrange staff,listeningtothe woman whohad
introducedherself asVala.
-B.B.Thorn wasvery fond of Vala.He would rarely speakof her.When he did,it wasas softly as a child
would speakof his mother.In many ways,though Inevervoiced this opinion aloud to Maddeus,Ibelieve
he adopted herin someway as his own mother had passed shortly before.
Valawas the name of his guardianandteacherfor the nextfew yearsasMaddeus grew.He adoptedthe
lastname of Wolfsbane atthistime,asthe authoritiesandotherfrighteningcharacterswere inquiring
aftera “childof a Mr. Thorn”.He kepthisfirstname,thoughand anystranger wise enoughtotell would
see that the boywas nota verytalkative one. –sidenoteB.B.this is of coursea matterof perspectiveof
travelerswho had traveled through, Maddeusand Ioften carried on long conversationsand he was
much more educated than heseemed,much like myself.Oncewe even spokea wholeafternoon upon…-
--ItappearsIhad picked up my pen afterquite a ratherrambunctiousnightand gota little off track,I will
continuemy tale—B.B.
As Maddeusgrew,sodidhisunderstandingof the worldaroundhim.He wasnot the normal one.At
sixteenhe underwentthe traditionallycanthroperitual andleftValaforgood.He wouldnotspeakupon
whatshe hadsaidto him uponhisdeparture,buthe didtell of herteachings.He learnedmuchfromhis

14. yearswithher,not onlyknowledge of whathadhappened,butof thingsthattooka longtime to
convince myself,letalone anyonewhostill speaksof him.Thatnight,someone hadunleashedagreat
evil uponthe world.Somethingthathadbeenlockedawaywasallowedfreebymenwhosharedthe
nature of thiscreature.Ithad alsobeenthe source of the laughterthathad made Thorn’sbloodrun
cold. I shall remarkfurtheruponthisat a laterpoint,as my researchcontinues.The creature he had
encounteredwasbuta part of thisevil,asubjectif youwill.The factthat Maddeuswas able toharm
such a creature was a featitself,ashe learnedthese otherworldlybeingswere nearimpossibletoharm,
but the scythe hadsavedhim.It was the Moon’sGift.The metal alwayshada lightaboutit, Maddeus
alwayshelditwithease, wouldleanuponit,asa manmighta walkingstaff.However,if he underwent
histransformation,orfeltdanger,the blade wouldseemtoshimmerandappearuponthe staff,alarge
and devastatingweapon.Itwouldharvestmoonlightandturnitintothe aether energythatMaddeus
manipulatedthroughthe blade andunleasheditthroughthe air. It waswhat had savedhimthe nightof
hisfirsttransformation.He learnedthatMother’sGiftwasthe reasonhe had inheritedthe ‘werewolf’
(This is my most aptdescription of whatThorn became,Maddeushated theterm) transformation.
Pickingupthat staff hadunwillinglylockedhimintoanotherworld,thoughFate hadseemedtoalways
steerThorntowardsthat path I believe.He learnedthatthe transformationscouldbe guided,even
controlled withtime.Inhisotherform,Maddeuswasa terrible,awe-inspiringsight.A man-like wolf,
blackas night.He walkedupontwolegs,andthe torsoresembledalarge,muscularhumanbody,but
the face.The face lookedjustlike awolf’shead,the snoutelongated,razorsharpteeth.Hisclawson
bothhands andfeetwere the same,razorsharp, seeminglyable torendmetal withease,never
shatteringatooth or dullingaclaw.He stoodabouteightfeetupright,andseemedtohave
inexhaustible stamina.While silveraffectedhim, suchaspowderbeingpotentiallyblinding,ordeeper
holesfromsilverbladesorbullets,he seemedunaffectedbymostconventional weapons.He would
almostregenerate,evenwhilehuman.He wasveryeffective athidingthisfromothers,andbecame very

15. cross one nightwhen,outof curiosity,Ihad takena short blade Ihad uponme and had triedmakingan
incisiononhisforearm.Thisdecisionhadcostme beingtossedintoanearbystump,rotten,where the
beetlesandgrubsseemedalsoabitcrossthat theirrecentlysolace hadbeensounexpectedly
interrupted.Italwaysfascinatedme,however,there didseemtobe some sortof physical toll upon
Thorn,especiallyaftertransformations.He wouldsleepmostof the day, wakingtosmoke a pungent
herbor drinkinganextracthe had learnedtomake fromhistime withVala.Itseemedtohelp,and
shortlyafteringestion,he wouldbe backuponhisfeet.The largerscarsremained,those fromhismore
intense encounters,throughbothforms. MaddeusandIhad firstmetinVala’shut,while afterashort
rendezvouswiththe local elder’soldestdaughter,Ihadbeenable tofindshelterin, asherfatherwas
eagerto findthiswanderingtroubadour.Imanagedtosneakin,andhad closedthe door,onlytofind
myself inplentyof foliage.Plantssurroundedme,the airsmelledpleasant,floweryalmost.Ihadnotime
to ask whataroma thiswas, as a handfoundthe back of myneck.Believingtobe caught bysome thug
or the fatherhimself,Ihadbeenable todraw the rapierfrommy side andwheeledaroundreadyfor
whateverawaitedme. ThankfullyitwasThornwhohad foundme,notthe girl’sfather. –Thorn will tell a
differenttale and claim thatI ‘cried aloud’when grabbed and had almostcutmyself drawing theblade
fromshaking--.ThatnightImetVala,learnedmore aboutThorn,and wasevenable towitnessthe
transformationwithmyowneyes.Whatwasdiscussed/showntome thatnightnotonlychangedmy
perceptionof the world,butIbelieve myverypurpose becameclearthatnight.Imustfollow and
chronicle the storyof thisboy,thisman, whohas beengrantedbysome divine ormysticpower,the
abilitytoseekevil anddestroyit.
--Atthispointthe bar became a madhouse of fightingandchaos,anda shot wasfiredat close range,
killingthe poorbarkeeponaricochet.I knew the innocentbloodspilledwouldrile the beastwithin
Maddeus,andwe quicklyleftthe pub.AtthispointIwasable to firstdiscernthe glimpsesof triggers
withinMaddeus,signsof potentialchange.Asananvil inthe skysignalsa possible storm, the teethof

16. Maddeuswouldelongate andflashwithinhismouth,asthe canineselongatedfirst,the firstsignsof the
transformation.Duringmoonphasesitseemedastruggle tokeepthese urgesatbay,and oftentimesI
wouldfindmyselfsleepingandwake tofindMaddeusgone,onlytowalkback intocamp later,possibly
coveredinblood(hisown,someoneor something else’s).These werenatural occurrencesforourfirst
fewwanderings,andthe beginningof a new chapterforMaddeusThorn.
--B.BNowdearreader,I understand you areprobably notinterested so much in my writingsand
background of Maddeus,however,everything Ihavewritten hasbeen important.Thesewere the
characteristicsof Maddeus,whatdrove him,how hedealtwith evil, both undead and dead alike.Iwill
stop my boorish background and thrillyou with our trip to the Americas,and explain moreabout
MaddeusThorn,and hishistory aswe continueon into this tale.You may also chooseto believe what
you wish,howeverI only write whatI haveseen with my own eyes…--B.B.
1788-The Trip to the Americas
Againdear reader,I’msure youare possiblyaware of atleastsome of the eventsthattranspiredupon
our voyage andreachingour destination,as itwasthe headlinesforthe Charlestonpapersformonthsto
come.There are eventhose whowill still refuse tobelieve whattheywitnessedthatnight,eventhe
marks leftbyMaddeusinthe Fort wallscoveredbypatchwork,asif he wasneverthere.Ohbut we
were,andthisdearreaderwas our firstadventure together…
AfterI haddecidedtowrite Maddeus’sactionsandheroics,thoughMaddeusforhisownsafetywould
not directlyadmittoeverykill,he wasgenerallyprettyopenwithme aboutwhoandwhyhe had taken
someone out.If hislife,orthose of otherswere indanger.He triedto onlywoundwhenpossible,
howeverbulletswouldenrage himandoftentimeshe wouldlose himself and endupslaughteringentire
regimentswithrelative ease.While inWales, we hadreceivedwordfrommyfriendinthe Americasthat
I was wayoverdue fora tripback to the U.S. so we caught a quicksteamboatand drove upto South

17. Carolina. The wayhe had writtenhisletter,myreturnwasof the upmostimportance and
confidentiality.AsMaddeuswasheadingtothe Americashimself he decidedtoshare the steamboat
fare withme,thoughtheyput upa fuss at the silverpistolsonhissides,the vastarrayof bladesand
bottlesof unidentifiable liquidthatThornonlydescribedas“careful withthose”, buttheypaidnomind
to the silvercane Thorncarefullyleanedupontohelphimself ontothe deck.
The crossingwas a sightto behold,whenitwasnotfoggy,andI managedto overcome myseasickness.
Maddeusstoodtall uponthe deck,hishandsfoldedoverthe cane,asharp lookinhisblue eyes.It
flashedlike the sea.Maddeushadnotbecome seasickasIhad, althoughhe hadadmittedhe didnot
spenta lotof time onboats.Perhapsit washard for himto become sickat all.Hisdemeanordarkened,
and the skyseemedtomimichisreaction,asthe cloudsgrew dark and ominous,tothe pointwhere the
captaindecidedthatwe wouldstopinBostonbefore headingdownthe coasttoSouthCarolina.
--Boston1788, October3—
The weatherhere freezesme tothe verycore,andI am not a fanof snow.Itdoesnot agree withmy
complexion nordoesithelpwithmydemeanor.Iwasina foul mood,stickingtothe warmfire of the Inn
and the cheapbeer.It wasquite good,thisAmericanbeer,andIquickly foundmyselfata table playing
some game where the objectwasto score twenty-one points.Ornotscore twenty-one points?Either
waywithan emptywallet,mindfullof booze andcabinfever,andcurioustothe whereaboutsof my
associate,Idecidedtolocate himandvacate the bar. Aftera long,coldwalk,andpassingmanymen
whohad foughtinthe recentwar for theirIndependence,Itriedtokeepasan AmericanpersonaasI
could,respectfullytippingmyhatas theywouldpassby.Many were missinganarm anda leg,probably
still layinginwhateverpile the warsurgeonshadcreated.IsoonfoundThorntalkingwitha very
attractive blonde woman,andwasverythrilledforhim.Here Iwascomplaining,andhere Maddeus,
whorarelywouldaccompanyme on romanticsorties,waschattingupsome local beauty.Itwas only

18. whenI caughta glimpse of the lookinhiseye didIrealize thischatwasfar from a romanticone.The
blonde womanwasyoung,well-dressed,obviouslyfromawealthyfamily.She lookedtobe aboutinher
earlytwentiesandherface showedlinesof recent wrinklesassociatedwithcrying.Thorntooknotice of
my approachand noddedinmydirection.
“Thisis my associate Bram,we wouldbe happyto assistyouinthismatter.”Thorn saidmatter-
of-factly.The womanthrewherarmsaroundMaddeus,almostcatchinghimoff guard. He wasnot used
to displaysof affection,especiallyinEurope wherehe wasa wantedmaninmany countriesfor
‘misunderstandings’.MostliestoldtobringThornintothe authorities.Others…wellIdidmentionThorn
had a temper.Here inAmericathoughhe wasjustanotherbeing,inthisBostontown.The snow had
alreadyblockedoutthe sunfor the day,but the dark of nightcame quickwiththe snowfall.We made
our wayback to the tavern,where IfinallyaskedMaddeuswhatexactlywe hadagreedtodo.Thorn
onlygave a smile thatI wouldlearnwouldbe asignof impending,andalmostinevitable trouble.
It was well pastmidnightaswe made ourwaydownthe dimlylitBostonroad.Here andthere a
figure wouldemergefromthe still fallingsnow,stumblingdrunktofindtheirwayhome,orquickly
movingfromone buildingtoanother.One thingIdidnotice wasthere were still prostitutes,many
young,still callingoutaswe passedby, promisingpleasures,thenwhenignored,tryingtoappeal toour
sympatheticside,claimingtheywouldnotsurvivethe winterwithouthelp.Maddeusdidnottake them
on theiroffer,buta womancryingwasMaddeus’sweakpoint.Asmuchas he woulddenyit, Maddeus
wouldoftenbecome emotionalorlethisguarddownaround womeninduress,ashe had exhibited
earlier,takingusonsome unknownjourneyforsome strange woman.Thornreachedintohiscoatand
pulledouta bundle of goldenrods(asouvenirfroma despicablehumanwhocalledhimself amerchant,
but haddealtinmurderand thieveryuntil he hadtriedtosteal fromThorn) and tossedthemtothe girls,
whothankedhimgratefully.Theyprobablyhadnotseensucha giftbefore,butforMaddeus,he seemed
to give awayany treasureswe mightstumble across,keepingonlywhathe neededtosurvive.Many

19. timesIwouldhave to take some itemsmyself discreetly,orpayment,justsowe wouldhave moneyand
comfortalongour travels.Of course if Maddeusknew he probablywouldhave givenme abrokennose
out of hispride.Butas I progressfromthe story,so I alsoprogressedawayfromThornas the girls
offeredthemselvestome forpaymentforsuch a costlygift,but I respectfullydeclined,toldthemtofind
shelter,andranto try to findMaddeusinthe increasinglywhitesnowstorm.The oil lampswere all but
out or onlybrightenoughtolightupa few feetaroundthe post.Anunnatural guttural roar andthe ring
of Maddeus’spistolscausedme tocharge throughthe snow and trippedovera pile of logs,crashinginto
a pile of straw andthe opendoorof a cabin.Maddeuswas inside,holdingapistol inone hand,a dark-
sunkeneyedmaninthe otherwhostruggledtoescape the irongrip of Thorn. Hiseyeswouldflicker
downoccasionallytothe silvercane Maddeuskeptathisside,as if he knew the blade mightappear
(Thoughitwouldcycle throughthe nightand moonlightoftenwouldreveal the blade andtransform
Thorn’sscythe,Maddeushadrecentlylearnedtocontrol the scythe aswell,usingitwhenhe wouldbe
inneedof it, especiallyanyincomingunknowndangers.
“Lette mehgo! I don’tknowwhatyou’re aboutstrangerbut I didn’thurtno one,especiallynota
child…”Maddeus’seyesnarrowedandblackfurbeganto spreadalongthe back of hisneck.I noticed
thisimmediatelyandmovedtothe cornerof the cabin. The man seemedtonotice thisaswell andhis
eyesopenedandhe managedtogasp out the word speak before Maddeusfinallydroppedhimtothe
floor,nowaimingthe pistol directlyatthe prone man’sskull.The manhissedandsnappedatThorn.
Thorn kickedhimwithhisheavyblackbootandsentthe man sprawlingintothe pile of woodIhad just
encountered.
“How aboutwe make thistalk a little more friendly?If notIwouldfeel fine endingitrighthere
and now.”Maddeusstated.The man emergedfromthe wood,seeminglyunharmedandbrushed
himself off.

20. “Curse you Lyan,youknowwhatthey’ll dotome if I talk?”The man hissed.ThisiswhenI
noticedthe two elongatedincisorswithinthe man’smouth.He sufferedfromaformof vampirism,
thoughhisconditionandstage of the disease wasunknowntome.However,if Thornwascautious,I
wouldbe too.I drewmy silverrapier(whichaftersome practice,Maddeushadtaughtme to use quite
sufficiently) andplacedituponthe collarof the man’s neck.
“Now,nowfriend,Idon’tquite understandwhatmyfriendMaddeushasaskedyou,butI would
advise answeringhimassoonaspossible beforethingsgetmessy.AndIcanpromise me andmy friend
here are verygoodat makingsure we are alwayscleanat the endof these situations.”Iboasted
sinisterly.Ifeltasif theywere Thorn’swordsleavingmymouthandI couldn’thelpbutsmile.Thissmile
onlyinfuriatedthe man.
“Scum! Bothof you! Lyan,youspawnof an animal whore andyouhuman,how warm isthat
bloodI can hearwithinyourveins?”The manyelledwithpainasMaddeushadfiredashot intothe
man’sleg.
“Enoughtalk Evin,or Lustronos?I’mnotsure whatyou call yourself.”Throughagrimace of pain
the man smiled,histeethelongating. Lyan andLustronos were twoveryderogatorytermsfor‘werewolf’
and ‘vampire’ butinanancientlanguage which hadbeenaround muchlongerthanour own.There was
apparentlynolove lostbetweenthesetworaces,aswe had run intoour share of Lustronos alongthe
way,usuallyendingupatthe endof Thorn’sscythe or witha silverbulletthroughthe heartfroma
distance.Thornchamberedanotherroundwithaclick,as if the pistol askedthe questionforhim.The
man spatout bloodand cursed.
“MaddeusThorn isit? That must make you Bram.” The vampire’seyesseemedtoburnthrough
me as he turnedhisheadinmy direction,“The wolf’slittletravelingpet,writingnonsenseforthe thrills
of pennydreadful readersall throughoutEngland.”The mangave anothersneeringlaugh,thistime

21. Maddeusbroughthiselbowharddownuponthe man’sback,and I heardthe vertebrae breakfrom
across the room.The man collapsedinashoutof painand heldupone hand.
“Fine!Fine!Nomore!Please,Iwascursedwiththisdisease almost70years ago whenIwas but
a child.I have done mybestto live inharmonywiththe people of thiscity,feedingonthe pooror the
thugsthat mightpatrol the streetsatnight.I cannothelpif my hungerdrove me to it.I washungry,had
not eatenindays.”Thorn’seyesneverleftthe man’sface.
“What was releasedduringthe bloodmoon?”Maddeusinquired.Ihadapparentlymissedthe
beginningof theirconversation(ifitcouldbe calledthat).The man’sface wentpale,palerthanIhave
everseenanyone effectedby the vampiricdisease.The mangave a longslow chuckle.
“What or Who? You thinkyouare special,protectedbywhat,the moon? He was made inthe
dark, itbelongsto him.” Maddeusfiredanotherroundintothe man’sleg,andthe vampire rolledaround
hisfloorinpain.I was worriedthe gunshotswouldbringunwantedguests,butitseemedthe snow
dampenedthe sound, aswell asitseemeditwaswidely knowntostayawayfrom thisparticularhouse.
Maddeusholsteredthe pistol andgrabbedhiscane.The blade gleamedasitcame to life inhishands,
and the vampire begantoshake.
“Valamir….onlyrumors,noreal signof hisreturn.Charleston,Dr.Abestonwill have the answers
youseek. Go nowand leave me be wolf.”Maddeusremovedthe blade fromnearthe man’sheadand
turnedto me.
“Well let’sconclude businessinBostonandlookslike we are headingtoSouthCarolina.”I,
almostdumbfoundedathowthe interrogationhadunfolded,managedtoexplainwe hadbothsupplies
and a carriage waiting,andthat a dear friendlivednottoofar fromthe Santee RivernearCharleston.

22. “So thisbusiness,whatisitandhow long will ittake tofinish?”IinquiredtoThorn.Maddeus
smiledandwithamazingspeed,broughtthe scythe downuponthe man’sneck,beheadinghim.The skin
hissedfrombeingslicedwithsilver,like sizzlingmeat,the vampire’smouthopen,still stuckwithits
defiantsneer.
“Thisman, or creature I shouldsay, isresponsibleforthe deathsof overtwelve peopleinthis
community,includingachild.The woman’schild.”Maddeusexplained.Iguessthe lookof shockacross
my face at the actionhad leadMaddeustoexplainhisactions.Itwastrue,I had notwitnessedsuchcold
bloodednessfromMaddeusever,thoughmanywouldsayall vampiresdeserve it.Butinthe face of the
commongood,whoam I to judge whoisrightand wrong?That’swhy we have faith,tohelpustry and
grasp whatcannot be understood.Gingerlysteppingoverthe now oozingneckof the decapitatedbodyI
followedThornoutthe cabin andback intothe snow.I quicklyglancedathim,
“Andwho isValamir?”Iinquired.Maddeushaddrawndeepintothoughtbutpaused long
enoughtoprovide me with“Onlya name”and didnotspeakuponthat name the restof our short time
inBoston.
Withina fewdays,afteralmosta weekanda half of beingcaught insome snowstorm, the
weatherfinallycleared.Thornwasalreadydownstairs,downingsome pancakesandbacon,blackcoffee.
I ordereda shotof whiskey,water,andthree eggsovereasy.Myheadwas poundingfromthe
excitementanddrinkthe nightbefore.We barelyspoke,butafterafew minutesof travelinginthe
carriage on our way toSouth Carolina,Thornexplainedtome whythingshadbeenstrange.Itseems
that the powerbehindthe recentoutbreaksof evil,fromthe constantcivil wars,senselessmassacresall
overwere directlylinkedwithwhateverhadescapedthe nightMaddeusthatfateful nightof the blood
moon.
Chapter 4: Cityby the Sea

23. Maddeusspentthe restof our tripreadingthrougha leatherboundnotebook,flippingpagesbackand
forthas if lookingforanswers.Afteralongperiodof time,he seemedtogive upandinsteadwatched
the passingroad throughour small window inthe carriage.The driverbarkedthatwe wouldsoonbe in
the city.This particularportof trade had made it an almostpersonal bank fornearbypirates,andthe
townitself wasa little rough aroundthe edges.Myfriend,Pernbury,livedinasmall plantationnear
Charleston.Ihadtrouble withthe stuffinessof the carriage,furtherinstigatedbythe humidity(evenin
winterthe airstayeddampand hot),and soughtto opena window.A familiarsightgave me aslightjolt
of anticipation,asthe carriage passedtwo large cypresstreesthatmarkedPernbury’sestate.The
hoovesof the horsesclickedupon the cobblestonesandThornreloadedbothpistolswiththe large
handmade bulletswithasimilarclickashe chamberedthe roundswitha flickof hiswrist.I tooknotice
and triedtoassure Thorn that everythingwasalright,howeverMaddeuswassilent.He seemedtotake
to “betterpreparedthanwanting”,astatementmyparentswere veryfondof repeating.Holsteringthe
tworevolvers,the carriage movedon,the horse clackinguponthe cobblestonesforanother10minutes
before the driverstoppedandannouncedourarrival atthe Pernburyestate.Growingup,the Pernbury
had beenaprominentfamilylike myowninEngland,butduringthe AmericanWarfor Independence,
Pernbury’sfatherleftEnglandto‘support’KingGeorge inSouthCarolina.He hadendedupjoiningwith
the local rebel militia,become aprominentfigure withintheirbattle ranks,andwasknownforhis
ruthlessnessagainsthisowncountrymen.Forhisactions duringthe war,he wasboth shunnedfromhis
homelandinEngland,andthe newlyfreedstateshadofferedhisfatherasylumwithinSouthCarolina
withan impressiveplotof landasa tokenof theirgratitude forhisservice.Pernbury’sfatherhadpassed
away some yearsago,thoughthroughletters,Iwasable to somewhatkeepincontactwithPernbury.I
had notseenhimintwentyyearshoweverandwonderedwhathe lookedlikenow.Ihadnot seenhim
since childhood.Asthe carriage stoppedatthe verandaof a verylarge estate,there wasa man waiting
for us,young,butthe wrinklesof age creepingalonghisface,asif hisbodyhadagedprematurely.Isoon

24. realizedwithajoltthatthisskeletal figurewasnone otherthanmyoldfriend.Hisshockof rustycolored
hair hadturnedalmostwhite,andIwonderedwhatterrible fate couldhave befallenmyoldfriend.
Pernburyrecognizedme immediatelyandslow togetup,movedfromthe porch towardsthe carriage.
“Bram…” he weaklyproclaimed.Pernburylookedweaker thanIhad previouslystated,leaninggingerly
on a woodencane.He lookedlike amanwell intohisfifties. The scarythingwasthat Pernburycouldn’t
be more thanthirtyyearsold.Maddeus’seye shone withaquick,sharpglean.Iknew he had noticedthe
same thing,howeverunlike myselfwhopersonallyknew Pernbury,he onlysensedorperhaps smelled (--
B.B. Yes,Thorn wasknownto be able to smell evil,asa dog mighttrack itsprey.To him eachpreyhad a
differentscent,eachevil adifferentodor.Itwouldoverwhelmhimattimesandlike awolf,he honed
himself tobecome alerttothe scent).Pernburyshookmyhandandclutchedmyelbow,agraspingbond
betweentwooldfriends.Iheldbackmytears as to notstartle my oldfriend,whodespite hisbodyheld
hisoldfierydemeanor.Maddeushadsomehow acquiredablackgallonhatfrom the train(--thoughhe
still swearshe neverstole it.Ihave oftenaggravatedhimuponthe subject,asThornhad an unspoken
love fordramaticflairand nimble fingers—B.B) andwithaslicktwist,placedituponhisheadandshook
Pernbury’shand.
“MaddeusThorn Mr. Pernbury.MyfriendBramhere has spokenfrequently andhighlyof you
and yourfamily.Iwas sorryto hear of the passingof your father,hismilitarystrategieswere the talkof
Londonfor quite awhile.”ThisseemedtocheerPernburyupsomewhat,asIknew he alsohad a love for
strategyand wasfondof huntingrifles.Inourlettershe wouldoftenspeakof some riflehe hadrecently
purchasedor some game he had huntedinthe deepSouth.However,whathe didnotmentionwasthe
degree of hisphysical deterioration,obvioustous,butsomewhere IhopedthatMaddeuscouldpossibly
findwhatwas ailingmyfriend,if itwassome sortof evil orjusta sickness.MaddeusandPernbury
walkedasPernburyheld,and wasfascinatedbythe silverpistolsMaddeuscarried. Pernbury’sseemed

25. mostinterestedwithThorn’s cane thoughMaddeuspolitelymovedthe subject(andthe cane) away
fromPernbury.
“Thisis a verynice plantationyouhave here Mr. Pernbury,I’ve neverseenthe likesof it.How
manyacres?” Maddeusinquired.Pernburyquicklybecame distractedandlooked outuponthe flat,
mist-coveredland.Itwasa sightto behold,asthe sunset behindthe tree line givingone finalorange
glow,andthe mist rose higherasnightset,settinga captivatingsettingwiththe stringsof lanterns
throughoutthe trees. --Imyself becamecaptivatedbythe sightandwrote manya sonnetuponthe
beautyof the South thatnight,thoughI shall notbore you withthemnow.Perhapsatsome later
point—B.B.Maddeuslaterexplainedtome thatPernburyowned200 acres of prime farminglandwith
over600 slavestoworkthe fields.
“ThisideamightdisturbyougentlemenbackinEngland,buthere anegrois property.The South
runs ontheirbacks damnit and withoutthe laborwe wouldall become beggars.Here we treatthem
well,providethemcomfortable quartersandmostof the luxuriesthatotherplantationownerscall
ludicrous.If theyneedsomethingtheyonlyneedask,Ihave giventhemeveryaccommodation
possible.”Pernburyexplainedasthe slavesbegantocome back fromthe fields.
“Exceptfreedom.”Thornquipped.Itwassolow that onlyI seemedtohearitand now realize
that itwas meantfor myears, Maddeusknew something.Pernburydidnothearthe remarkbut quietly
watchedthe men,womenandchildrenwalkingbarefootbackto theircabinsandthenwitha graceful
spin,invitedusinside hisestate forsupper.
The meal itself wasexquisite,5courses,withdinnerguestswhowere fromaneighboringplantationand
had come overto joinour soiree.Pernburyseemeddelightedtohave somany people inhishouse and
had itfull of light,givingthe whole houseacheerful atmosphere.The guestswere notshorton
conversationtomygreat pleasure andwe chattedanddrank mostof the coursesthrough.There were

26. twosouthernbelleswhocouldnottake theireyesoff of Maddeusthe entire dinner,andhungonevery
wordhe wouldsay.Theybombardedhimwithquestions,andMaddeusturnedoutto be quite the
dinnerguest,thoughmostof hisanswerstotheirquestionsIknew tobe false.Thoughthe truthwould
have probablysentthemfleeingfromthe house,if nottoretrieve the police toroundusboth upas
madmen.He kepta smile andadaptedto the Southerncharm, playingthe complete Southern
gentleman.Thorn’sfingershoweverneverstoppedtappingagainstthe topof hiscane…
Afterthe exquisite dinner,Iretiredwithmynew companions,one of the ladiesfromthe dinner,aMs.
Belmonttothe libraryfor some brandyandlivelyconversation.MaddeusandPernsbury walkedonto
the verandato smoke theirpipes.
--HereI wasunableto attend the line of questionsMaddeushad forPernsbury,orthereason behind
Maddeus’ssenseof an impending evilthatafflicted my dearfriend,which Maddeuswould soon discover
as they bothsmoked and a full moon rose over thetop of the Cyprustrees—
“I must say,thankyou forthe hospitality.Iunderstanditiscommoninthe South,howeveritisnot
somethingIam usedto.”Pernsburylithispipe andinhaling,blew acloudof smoke intothe muggynight
air.
“It ismy pleasure Maddeus,fromwhatIhave heardyou are quite traveled,thoughhave nevermade
your wayto the Americas.”Pernsburyleanedbackinhisrockingchairand tampedhispipe.Maddeus
gave a long,thoughtful lookoverthe tree line atthe moon,andclosedhiseyes.Maddeus’smind
wanderedwiththe moon,hisbodylongedforthe change,the thrill of running,freedom.He openedhis
eyes,the gleanof the moonshining,hiscane carefullyplacedbetweenhishands,blockinganylightfrom
touchingthe silvercarvings.
“I have not,thoughI mustsay itis mydeepestregret.The sightsandsmellsare captivatingandbelieve I
have foundmyself longingforaplace like this.”Maddeusremarked(--and though when Ifirsthad heard

27. this I did notknowThorn had been speaking thetruth,Charleston had castits spell upon him—B.B.)
Thorn carefullydrewonhispipe andblew acloudof smoke intothe air, watchingitfade inthe
moonlight.Pernsburylaughed.
“It isenchantingisitnot? I findmyself uponthisporchinthe eveningsreadinglettersandnovelsby
lantern,andI mustadmit,before myailment,wouldoftengohuntinginthese woods.Game isplentiful
here and I missthe feel of agood rifle inmyhands.”Pernsburyreplied.Maddeusalreadyknew this,as
hisears couldhearthe rustlingof leaveswithinthe forest,the smellof deerantlersinhisnose mixing
withthe smell of smoke.He gazedat the lightsnearthe cabins,itseemedthatthe slaveswere
celebratingsomethingaroundagiganticbonfire.
“Looks like quite abitof fun.”Maddeusnoddedtowardsthe bonfire.
“Oh yes,theyare celebratingsome sortof oldtraditionfromtheirlands.Youknow these peoplewere
broughthere not toolongago straightfrom SouthernAfrica.Mostdon’tevenspeakaword of English…”
But Maddeushad stoppedlisteningtoPernsbury,hiseyeswere focusedonanoldAfricanwhowas
elaboratelydressedwithpaintstandingatthe headof the pyre,hiseyeslockeduponthe farawaygaze
of the white manwolf.
I soonfoundPernsburyand Maddeusuponthe verandaand aftera few brandieshadmade myway,
witha laughingMs.Belmonthanginguponmyarm, attemptedtobringsome livelinesstotheirapparent
somberness,butfoundPernsburylostinhisownthoughts,andMaddeusstaringfaroff towardsa large
fire.My appearance andthe flirtatiousairof Ms. BelmontbroughtPernsburybackfromhisthoughts
and joinedusfordrinks.Maddeuswasstone quietfora moment,butnoticingthe partywasmoving
back inside,smiledandfollowedusbackinside.
We continueddrinkinglate intothe night,all of usbecomingmore andmore inebriatedandthe
laughterdidnotcease.EvenMaddeusseemedtobe havinga goodtime,dancingwiththe ladies,who

28. were almostshovingeachothertofightforhis attention.Soonthe topicsturnedtorifles,and
Pernsbury,drunkandenergetic,showedushisprizedpossession,apairof repeatingriflesfromMr.
Westonhimself whohadgivenPernsburythe prototypesfortesting.Pernsbury,whowasnoidiot
himself,hadmade hisownmodificationstothe rifle,evenaddingaglasslenstothe top of the rifle
allowingforadditional sightandaccuracy.Thishe happilydisplayedinhisparlor,placingbulletholes
strategicallyinhiswall faracrossthe room. We all took a turn firingthe rifles,bothme andMaddeus
matchingPernsbury’sshotforshotandplayingitoff as simple luck.Pernsburyseemedtosee through
our act, but playedalong.SoonPernsburyandthe gentlemanguest(the brotherof Ms.Belmontfrom
whatI understood) hadpassedoutuponthe couchesinthe parlor,andMs. BelmontandI hadsnuck off
to more discreetquarters.The remainingladieshadsearchedforMaddeus,howeverduringall the
excitement,ithadseemedhe haddisappeared.Theygiggledastheyyelledtheirgoodbyesandthough
theybelievedMr.Thornto probablyhave retiredtohisroomfor the evening,Iknew better.Maddeus
was onhisown hunt.
--Written by MaddeusThorn—
Nearingmidnight,Bramandthe resthad consumedagood amountof the potent brandyandthoughI
had a fewdrinksmyself,Islowlydrankasto keepmywitsaboutme.Bram (thoughI cannotentirely
blame him) seemedpreoccupiedwiththe beautiful redheadinthe purple dress,andourhostwas
dozingoff betweenboutsof exclamations aboutsome literaryfigure ortale he hadheard.It waseasy
for me to slipawayunnoticed.Since Bramhadhispenelsewhere atthispoint,Ishall give youthe details
of whathappenedthatnight.
Aftersneakingoutof the parlor,I made my waymostlyunnoticedbyanyhouse servants,
throughthe house and outtowardsthe slavesquarters,where the oldmanhadmatchedmygaze while
I had lookedtowardsthe bonfire.Somethinginhiseyeshadmade me sure thathe was behindwhatever

29. trouble wasuponthe plantation,andthatit wouldonlygetworse.Thismanwasvengeful,full of anger
and spite.Icouldsmell ituponhim.Thiswasnot a man to be takenlightly.He wasmostlikelyashaman,
the people’sheadmedicinemanwhohadbeentakenalongwhenenslaved. The manwaspowerful,I
was sure,notsomeone tobe takenlightly.The extentof hispower,Ididnotknow,but I wasgoingto
findout…
Afterreachingthe smolderingpile of whatusedtobe the bonfire,Imade outwhat seemedto
be stick figuresandthe bonesof a pigstill smolderinginthe dirt.The moonwasat itsfullest,andmy
stomachlurchedas my bodyfoughtagainstthe transformation.Iheavedwhatbrandywasinmy
stomachonto the groundand placeda glovedhandintothe emberstoretrieve the stickfiguresthat
were still smoldering.AsIdidthis,a multitude of powerful handsplacedthemselvesuponmybackand
throwingme to the ground,I foundmyself face toface withthe oldshamanand abouttwelve adult
slaves,all solemnandsome carrying sicklesorpickaxesintheirhands.The oldmansmiled,showinga
row of rottenteeth.
“Thorn.” The oldman said.His face bore the scars of a medicine man,Iwascorrect in assuming
thisman wasa shamanof sorts.Howeverinhisoutstretchedhand,he heldalarge thornwhichhe
prickedmyhand withandscarletblooddrippedfrommyfingersdownintoasmall clayjar theyhad
placedto collectthe blood.The oldmanliftedthe cupto the moon,andchanting,hiseyesturnedwhite
as theyrolledbackintohishead.Hisbodywentthrougha fitof spasmsand he broughtthe cup to his
lips.
“LUPUS.”The wordsrolledoff the shaman’stongue andwithatwisthe drankthe bowl
containingmyblood.Itdrippedfromhislipsashe turnedtowardsme and pointedabonyfinger.He said
somethinginanAfricandialectthatI hadneverheardbefore.The slaveswarilymovedcloserwiththeir
makeshiftweapons.Earlierthe cloudshadbeencoveringthe full moon,thoughnow theyhadpassed

30. and the moonshone as brightas ever.Ihad learnedthatI couldchange despite the moon,however,it
was harderand harderto control duringmoonphases,yeteachphase wouldalsoincrease mystrength,
as well asmake the transformationhardertocontrol.These menwere scared.The shaman had
probablytoldthemwhatI was,or giventhemsome idea,astheymovedforward,slowly,carefully.The
beastwithinstirred.Moonlightcaughtthe staff andmy scythe immediatelyreformed.Itwasinevitable
now and I letgo. I feltmyteethshiftinmymouth,andmy bonesbegantosnap and realignthemselves.
Black fursproutedfrommy body as I grew,andbecame Thorn.My eyeswere redwithanger,andwitha
howl,Ilashedoutat the nearestgroupof slavesthathad creptup to my left.Myclaws flashedlike
knivesinthe moonlight,butIwasunable toreach anyone.Silverchainshadbeenthrownaroundmy
limbsandI feltthe burningbeginasthe silverworkeditswayintomyskin.Iwas trapped.Evenmy
scythe wasout of reach,unable todraw uponmy powertomove the scythe,probablyaspell castby the
shamanor the workof the silverchains,enchantednodoubt.A roar of frustrationbroke frommy
throat,my beastformdesperatelyslashingatthe silverlines,wincingastheyburned,thoughI
succeededinfreeingone arm.Stayingwell outside of myreach,theywatchedme withwonderintheir
eyes,andI wascuriousif theyhad everseensomeone like me before.A few quickcommandsandthe
slavesbackedoff anditwas justme andthe oldshaman. Hisface twistedandhe turnedhissightless
eyestome.
“I can see now,MaddeusThorn.Your language,yourgift,youconsiderita curse. Your bloodis
impure,unworthyof the moonblessing.”Hisvoice seemedhollowandechoedinhisthroat,as if the
wordswere notthe man’sown.Rather,the shamanwas a puppet,a tool forsomethingelse totaunt
me.I lashedtowardshimwitha roar, teethgnashinginchesawayfromhishead.The pull of the silver
chainsheldme back and the shamanmerelylaughedatmyattemptto beheadhimwithasnapof my
jaws.The shaman ran hishandsalongmy incisor,aslarge as hisarm withwonder.

31. “I can see within,Ican see her,I can see yourmother,yourfather,youletthemdie thatnight,
youwere not strongenough.Ishall show you my power.Iwill call uponthe spiritsof ourlong deadto
release youfromthiscursedlife,Ishall carryyourburden.”The shaman’shandmovedand I feltthe
slackof a chain,as one slave movedtosethis feetorperhapsaverthiseyesfromwhatevermagicthe
shamanwas aboutto unleash.Inevergave hima chance.Usingthe chainas a whip,I pulleditovermy
shoulder,alongwiththe twomenwhoheldit,slammingthemintothe ground.Atthe sightof this,the
otherslavesdroppedtheirchainsandran, the beastwas free.Witha roar I leapttowardsthe shaman,
my scythe rushingtomy hand.InsteadIfoundmyself normal again,holdingthe scythe blade atthe neck
of the nowkneelingshamanwhostill keptawickedsmileonhisface.My firstinstinctwas to separate
thissmile fromhispatheticbody,butthe beastwasno longerthere.Myhumanside keptthe man alive,
the scythe leavingcrimsonribbonsuponthe darkskinof the shaman’sneck.
“Skinchanger,doyouknowwhyyouare here?Youseekanswerstothe night,youseekthe evil
that wasonce man,but no more.Dark magichas changed,the moonshiftsandthe eclipse growscloser.
What chance doesa wall of sandhave againstthe sea?”The shaman spoke inalmostperfectEnglish.
“You can stop yourriddlesandgames,Ihave no time foreither.Ican smell you,whynot stop
hiding?”The shaman’sbodyshookwithlaughter.
“MambeYugo,taro simbebe.”The shamanuttered.Hisbodyseemedtovibrate asif shiftingin
and outof the physical world.A blastmuchlike the compressionof anexplosionsentme sprawlingto
the ground.Above me the shaman’sbodyshookandadjusted,Icouldhear the bonessnapand replace.
It remindedme of myowntransformation,butthis,thiswassomethingelse.
--B.B.—
AfterMs. Belmonthadfallenasleep,Ifoundmyself unabletosleepinthe unbearable humidity.InsteadI
tookto wanderingthe grounds,lookingforMaddeus,whohadprobablyshiftedsometime duringthe

32. nightand wasstretchinghislegsalongthe large plantation.Itwasonlythe soundof what seemedtobe
the call of a giant cat and the ringingof pistol shots,Maddeus’spistols.Iranas quicklytowardsthe noise
as quicklyaspossible,rapierdrawnanda small flintlockinmylefthand,full of silvershot.Maddeuswas
human,battlingwithwhatappearedtobe a giganticblackfeline creature.Thorn’sscythe layonthe
ground,a simple cane eveninthe moonlight.Maddeus,rollinganddodgingthe attacksof the creature,
seemedunable tocall uponhisownlycanthropy.Insteadhe usedthe tworevolversonhisside,
emptyingbothgunsintothe transformedshaman.The shotsonlyseemedtodissuade the beastfrom
attackingheadon, andit slowlydancedaroundMaddeus.Maddeuskepthiscomposure andseeingme,
heldupa single handto signal me tostay back. I couldsee fromthe lightsinthe cabins,the slaveswere
veryinterestedinwhatwasgoingon.Burningcandlesilluminateddarkfacesagainstthe window pane.
The pantherjumpedtowardsThorn,whorolledand firedanothershot,thistime strikingthe shamanin
the eye.The panther-creature roaredwithangerandpainandlashedoutat Maddeus,leavingfive deep
marks inhisshoulder.One clawhitanartery and brightredbloodbeganto soakthe ground around
Maddeus.It wasat thispointIaimedmypistol at the creature and manageda shot,whichgrazedit’s
back. The shamanturnedfrom Maddeusandglaredat me withdeep,yellow eyes.Iamembarrassedto
say I froze as we lockedeyes(thoughlaterIwouldfind thatmanycreaturesor beingsof evil were able
to inspire fear,renderingtheirtargetsvulnerable).Maddeusdraggedhimself off the groundandwitha
grunt of pain,threwoff hisheavycoat,revealingablade attachedtohis rightarm, coveredwithrunes.
As hisscythe seemedunresponsive,Maddeusleaptatthe shaman,whosensingdanger,quicklymoved
out of the downwardpathof the blade,whichmanagedtoseverthe shaman’sear.Asthe ear hitthe
ground,unlike Maddeuswhowouldregeneratesuchappendages,itturnedbackintothe humanear
infuriatingthe pantherevenmore.Itcircledusboth,as if tryingto decide whichthreattotake care of
first.It casuallywalkedbackandforth,as a carnivore playswithitsprey.Maddeusstoodhisgroundas
the shamanleapttowardshim,teethflashing.A rifle shotrangacrossthe field,the bulletfindingitsway

33. intothe skull of the panther.It fell tothe ground,changingbackintothe shaman.A large hole layin his
head,hisface still twistedinadefiantsneer.Behindme stoodPernsbury,whosurprisingly,seemedto
have regainedhisstamina.Insteadof the agedmanwe had metuponour arrival,he stoodstrongand
fierce,the PernsburyIknewof old.
“Damn if I don’tfeel like myself again,I’dsaythatwasmy bestshotin ages.What inGod’sname
was thatcreature?”Pernsburyinquired.Thornplacedahand uponhisjacket,feelingthe skinbeginto
heal,the skinreplacingitself where the clawshadtornthrough.
“I believethiswasthe cause of your deterioratinghealth.”Maddeuswinced,asI knew even
thoughthe skinand tissue wouldsoonheal,itpainedhimasitdidso.
“Thisman was the medicine manforthe slaveshere,trainedindarkmagic,voodoolike Ihave never
seenbefore.”Maddeusexplained.
“So youare tellingme thismanisresponsible forthe trouble Ihave gone throughthese pastfew
years?”Pernsburyinquired.Maddeusnodded.
“Lucky to be alive.If thisshamanhadbeenmore powerful,youwouldhave diedlongago.NowI
have some questionsforyou.”Pernsburybowed.
“I do not knowwhatto say,to thinkthat thiswas all a curse?Who wouldeverbelievesucha
thing?”Pernsburyseemedexcitednowthathe hadregainedhishealthback.
“Thisis amazing!”Pernsburyexclaimedlookingoverthe bodyof the shaman,“Lookat the
marks,thisman couldchange skins.”I triednotto act toosurprised,andMaddeusgave me an
appreciative glance.Soonthe slavesbegantopourfromtheircabinsto outside,tosee whatthe
commotionwasabout.Upon seeingthe deadbodyof theirmedicine man,afew celebrated.However

34. mostkeptsullenfacesandcarefullypickedupthe bodyof the shaman.Maddeuswatchedinsilence
until Pernsburyraisedhisrifle again.
“Sam, Adam,Luke…”Pernsburybegan,hisrifle aimed atthe slavestakingthe bodyaway.
Maddeusloweredthe barrel withhishand.
“You are all free,take thismanand leave tonight.Youwill findaferrynottoofar up fromhere,
it will take youtoBoston.Hop aboard andmake yourself scarce,donot hesitate beforeIchange my
mind.”PernsburyalmostseemeddumbfoundedbyMaddeus’sdecree,butmyhandon hisshouldertold
himto listentoThorn.Pernsburysighed,
“Fine,anyone whowishestogo,youmayleave.Take thatcursedman’s bodywithyou.To those
whowouldstay,no longerare youslaves,butI shall paydailywagesfordailywork.”Pernsburydecreed.
A majorityof the men,womenandchildrenatthisnewshappilydancedandstayedbehind.The rest
quietlyandswiftlytookthe shaman’sbodyandslippedintothe night.
As we returnedtothe house I noticedthatThorn’sback wasshredded,the workof silverno
doubt.Maddeus’sinjurieshadmostlyhealed,save forhisback,a spiderwebof burns.Pernsburyseemed
preoccupiedandhadtakenthe supernatural encounterprettywell (MaddeusclaimsmyfirstencounterI
had shriekedinafashionenoughtodistracta wright,whichThornusedto senditback to the aether).It
was onlyuntil afterwe hadreturnedtothe parlor insilence andsatfor a momentdidPernsburybegin
hisquestioningof Thorn.Of course Maddeusdidnot reveal the extentof hisabilities,northe nature of
hiscane,but didadmitto a life of wandering,andthateitherhe wasdrawnto evil,orevil tohim.
PernsburylistenedintentlythroughoutMaddeus’sstorybeforespeaking.
“So thisrecentillnesshasbeenacurse,yousay.”He stoodup and pacedback and forth,his
handsclaspedtogetherbehindhim.Finallyhe stopped,hisgaze restinguponme.

35. “Did youknowof this?These creatures,curses,voodoo,magic,whateveryou’dlike tocall it.”
PernsburystrainedandIkneweverythinghadbeenalotto take in.Maddeusintervened,
“Bram mighthave guessedbutwhetherornothe knew forsure isa differentmatter.Why,
there mightbe a numberof reasons,butI thinka person’sfreedomisapivotal motivator.”Maddeus
leanedbackinhischair, the woundshadhealedandhe seemedtofeel himself again aswell.Pernsbury
sat down,hishandsclasped.
“Well,Iought tobe grateful.Thankyouboth,thiswhole thing…wellit’sjustnew tome.SoI’m
guessingthe original statedpurposeof yourvisitisnotjustto take inthe sightsof Charleston?”
“No.” StatedMaddeusmatter-of-factly.He hadlithispipe witha pugentherb,the aromafilled
the room. I hadoftennoticedMaddeususedthisherbtocalm himself betweentransformationsandit
seemedtoease anyphysical painhe hadas well.He offeredthe pipe toPernsbury,whoaftertakinga
deeppuff,seemedmore atease.Isoonfeltmyself ease,asif a heavyweighthadbeenliftedfromnot
onlyPernsbury,butthe house aswell.Betweenthe excitementandthe final dregsof the liquorinmy
bloodstream,Ifoundmyselffallingsleepuponanarmchairas MaddeusandPernsburytalkedandthe
smoke hunglazilyinthe air…
--AtthispointI dozedoff,I laterrecordedthe conversationasMaddeushadrecalledit—
“So whatis ityou and Bram are lookingforhere inthe states?”Pernsburyaskedinquisitively.
Maddeusdrewon hispipe againandblew the smoke outthroughhisnose.
“SpecificallyI’mnotsure whatwe are searchingforisIN the colonies,butIam lookingfora man
by the name of Abeston,adoctorof sorts.He wouldstayclose tothe cityand verylikelyhasahobbyfor
silvercrafts.”Pernsburyknottedhisbrow inthoughtandsnappedhisfingers.

36. “While Iam not quite sure if hisname isAbeston,there isadoctor inCharlestonwhomatches
your description.He isa quietman,old,reserved,andhasa verylarge collectionof silverstatuesand
dinnerware thatisquite popularamongstthe higherclass.Ihave nothad the courtesyof seeinghimfor
any medical advice,thoughIhave writtenhimbefore.”Maddeuskepthiseyeslow andpuffedonthe
pipe,hiseyesgleaming.
“It seemsBramand I will have to make a trip tomorrow intothe cityto meetthisdoctor.”
Maddeustampedouthis pipe androse to leave the parlorwhenPernsburyseizedhisarmand looked
himstraightin the eye.
“Mr. Thorn,you are more thanyou have leton,and I will notaskquestions asIfeel thatI shall
not getthe answers.I onlyaskyoutake care of my dearfriendBram, and know that I owe youmy life.It
isa debtI shall repay.Iam curiousaboutyour weapons,the revolvers,the blade uponyourarm, mayI
see them?”Maddeuspausedfora second,before unhookingthe blade fromhisarmandunholstering
hisrevolvers.Pernsburytookthe weaponsandgazedateachcarefullybefore tossinghisrifleinto
Maddeus’shands.
“Here take myrifle,Itoldyouweaponryisone of my manyhobbies.Bythe time youreturn,I
shall have these modifiedtomake themmore concealable,increase theirpotential sotosayto fityour
line of work.Ohand Thorn, I dohave a small box of silverbulletsforthatrifle,commemorative soto
speak.Theyare in the glassdisplayinthe study.”Maddeussmiledandtippedhishatrespectfully,
thoughPernsburybarelynoticedinhisgaze uponthe weaponsbefore himandhisinventivemind
workingsomuch like the PernsburyIhadknownof old. Whenhe had a mindfor things,he couldhave
rivaledMichelangelohimself.
The nextmorningwe decidedtostaybehind,(one beingmymassive hangoverandmakingup
talesof wildfire andheatlightningtoexplaintoourstill mostlydrunkenguestswhathadhappened

37. duringthe night.The secondbeingthe weatherhadchanged,the skydarkeningwithrainandflooding
the roads. Maddeustookthistime to go ona ‘walk’whichIknew washimskinchanging).Mostlybored
by the absence of Thornand Pernsburylockedinhisstudytinkeringawaywithweapons,oftenwith
backfiresandcurses.I tookthe time to browse Pernsbury’sveryextensivelibrary.
(-Anotherentry by MaddeusThorn-)
I tried to relate the following to Bram,yet upon his constantinsisting,Iwill write to allow for more
‘insightfuldepth’asBramlikes to say.If he stopshis constantbadgering…
The rain for me was exhilarating.The fight,alongwiththe moonphase,hadgivenme anincreased
desire,andasI stood inthe middle of the dense woodsandfeltmybonescrack and shift,itwaslike I
was alive.I ran throughthe forestwithincredible agility,leavingalmostnotrace of my passing.Running
helpedme thinkand Valahadtaught me herway of movingthroughthe trees, like our brethren,she
wouldsay.Infact, at one pointI didrun upona small packof greywolves,whose alphaonlygave me a
quick,inquisitivelook,before movinghispackalong.Valaalwayshada waywiththem, andI would
oftenfindwolvesuponourdoorsteporaroundour house.However,Iwasdifferent. Born of a blood
moon.Bythe time I had quitrunningitwas darkand I stoodupon a beach,gazingout acrossan ocean.I
was completelyalone,the onlylightdimflashesfromlightningstrikesfaroutat sea.I letout a howl,and
hearda replyfarinthe distance fromprobablythe same packof wolvesIhad run acrossearlier.Iquickly
feltthe coldhandle of myscythe in myhand,a part of me,unable toleave itbehinddue tosome
magical bondbetweenme andit.Valahadsaid onlythe worthywere everable touse the staff,andthat
our kindhadbeenmade inthe old worldtoprotect againstthe darkness.Some hadshiftedawayfrom
that calling,butthe alphas, wouldalwayscarrythe scythe.Itmade thembeyondthe normal
lycanthropes,andwasusuallyasignfora highercalling,divinedfromthe stars.There hadonlyever
beena fewlike me throughourhistory,Valahadexplained,Iwasbornwitha destiny. Littlewolf boy,

38. born on a blood moon.Valahadbeenlike amotherto me,teachingme the ways of the wolvenfolk(as
theylikedtocall themselves),includingcustomsandtraining.Valahadalsobeenverysaavyabout
plantsand hadtaught me to identifyherbsbynotonlytheirlook,butsmell aswell.Valahadhiddenme
away while the renegade soldiershadlookedforme,andwhenthe time hadcome to leave,she shedno
tears.Onlystrokedmycheekandsaidwhat she alwayshadtoldme, Little wolf boy born on a blood
moon. Staringoutoverthe seaI couldonlywonderwhatValawasdoing,humminghersongsand
hangingupherbsto dry for sale the nextday.I thinkpartof me knew that I wouldneverreturntothat
hut.My past life wasover,Iwasnow ona differentpath.
--ContinuedbyB.B.—
Duringthe fewdaysof Maddeus’stransformations,Ihadlittle todo butread withalmostnocompany
save for a house servantbythe name of Eli whoseemedinterestedinmywritingsandeventoldme
storiesabouthisowncontinent.Apparentlythe medicinemanhadbeentakenawayfromthe village,
but hadalwaysharboredpowerful magic.He wasthe original one toplace the curse upon Pernsbury,
usinga humansacrifice tosummonbloodmagicthat woulddeteriorate the healthof Pernsburyover
time.Thistype of magic wasshunnedamongEli’speople,soonlyafew slaves(now freemen) had
followedthe medicine man.Eli andthe othermendidnotknow exactlywhatThorn was,as the silver
chainshad seentothat, butknewa great powerlaywithin.Theywere scaredof himandhisabsence
fromthe plantationseemedtoputthemat ease.IpromisedMaddeuswasnotone to holda grudge,it
soundedalot betterthanexplainingif Thornhada problem, thattheywouldhave alreadybeendead.
The soundof the door creakingopenmade me leapupfrommy seatand Maddeusstoodin the
doorway,wearinghisblackovercoatandgallonhatwhile leaninguponhiscane.Isaw the scars that had
not yethealedonhisrighthand,and knew he hadbeenfrustrated.Itwaslaterwhena servantcame
runningintothe house totell a tale of an entire acre of large pinesbeingseveredatthe stumpsthatI
knewMaddeuswasthe cause.Thorn had become irritatedwithtryingtofigure outwhythe silverhad

39. beensoeffective,stoppingnotonlyhistransformation,butmostof hispowersaswell.He gave me a
nodand walkedin,removinghissoggybootsashe didso. A prettychambermaidusheredhimtowardsa
hot bathand freshclothes.While Maddeussoaked,Ihearda loudbangand an exclamationfrom
downstairs.Pernsburythrewhisstudydooropenwithwildenthusiasm.Thorn’spistolshadbeen
modifiedwithaspringso eachpull of the triggercreateda smoothmotionthatchamberedanother
round.It was as close toan automaticweaponas we hadseen.The swordhad beenconcealedintoa
blackband wornaroundthe arm, witha simple shrug,wouldunhingethe blade,springingoutof the
band. He handedthe weaponsoverwithrelish,waitingtohearthe response fromThorn.Thorngazed
downthe sightsof his pistol andholsteredbothof themwithamazingagility.
“Thank youPernsbury.”Maddeusremarkedgraciously.Pernsburyjustgrinned.
“Anytime friend,Ienjoytinkeringwithweaponsfromnow andagain,if youeverfindyourselfinneedof
one,youknowwhere tofindme.”He claspedmyhandand Maddeus’switha renewed vigorand
noddedtowardsoutside.
“As youcan see,the sunis shining.Iknow youare both anxioustovisitCharleston.Ihave mattersto
attendto here soI will notbe joining.Incase your journeytakesyouawaybefore we have saidour
partings,Iwouldjustlike tosay again,thankyou andyou are welcome backanytime.”Maddeusflashed
hissmile.
“Of that youcan be certain,we will be seeingeachothersoonPernsbury.”A carriage awaitedoutside
for me and Thorn,Eli was the driver.Pernsburyembraced me withahugand lookedme deadinthe eye.
“Bram, whatevertale youare searchingforor whateveryouhave tangledyourself upin,beware.
Mortals are notmeantto meddle inthe affairsbeyondthisworld.”Isimplypattedmyfriendonthe
shoulder,inafashionsimilartoThorn.

40. “Don’t worryaboutme oldfriend,Istill have lifeleftenoughtofinishwhatIhave started.”Istateda bit
hurt.Maddeus turnedtohand the rifle backto Pernsbury,whorejecteditandpasseditontome.
“Here Bram, take the rifle.The increasedsightandaccuracy will make youable tobe efficient,evenata
longrange.I cannot tell youif all these monstersare weaktosilverorfire,andif youperchance ever
meetone,Iwouldrun.”Pernsburyadvised.Itookthe rifle with somewhatadamancyaboutthe whole
ordeal butmade no fussand followedMaddeusintothe carriage.
Somewhere alongthe nightthe horsesshoesstoppedclackingoncobblestonesandwasreplacedbythe
dull thudof thick mud.Openingthe blindstoourwindow Icouldtell itwasthe earlymorning.We were
stuck inwhatappearedto be a swamp-likemixture.Eli blindedthe horsesandjoinedusinside the
carriage where Maddeuslayasleepagainstthe door,waitingformorningandthe sunto hopefullydry
out the mud.He seemedalittle shakenwhenhe enteredthe carriage,lockingthe doorsbehindhimand
mutteringaboutdarkspiritsthatlivednearthe woods.Ilistenedtohimthrougha sleepfilledhaze until
I foundmyself driftingasleepuponacushion.
A large rattle,as if somethinglarge hadhitthe carriage woke usall up fromour slumber.Maddeuswas
the firston alert,as the doorsto the carriage shookas if something,orsomeone,wastryingtogetin.I
movedtoopenthe curtains toget a betterview of whatexactlywasoutside,butEli’shandstoppedme
midair.
“Do not gaze outside,thisisthe time of the dead.We are trespassershere,andthe spiritswill
call you awayto your owngrave.”The seriousnessof Eli’stone andthe blackhairsformingon
Maddeus’s neckwere enoughtostopme.Maddeusspunhiscane inhishand.
“We disturbthe deadisthat it?It seemstheyare determinedtodisturbus.”He saidalmostangrily.I
knewMaddeusto sleepforlongperiodsof time,andwasirritatedwhenwokenearly,butatthis
momenthe seemed,dangerous.He openedhe carriage doorandjumpedout,despite the criesof Eli to

41. stay inside.Icaughta slightglimpse of outside.A lightfoghungonthe air,the sunwas onlya few hours
away.For whateverhadattacked us,I didnot see.Maddeusslammedthe carriage doorshutand Eli
clutchedhisheadinhishands,praying.I tookthistime to glance outthe carriage window andsawthe
verymuch transformedMaddeus,standingtall amongstwhatappearedtobe a ghostlycrowdof mist-
like figures.Theyhadnofaces,demi-spirits,Iwouldlaterlearn,bornfromthe violentdeathof many,
causingrestlessspiritstowandertheirworldlygraves.One demi-spiritgave me astart as itbangedits
facelessheadagainstthe window, causingEli toprayharder andme to fall back.I pulledthe rifle from
underthe seat,and usingthe silverbullets,whichThornhadseenfittocarve runesinto,loadeda
cartridge and slightlyopeningthe window,hitthismistfigure inthe headwithmyfirstshot.Witha cry
like adyinghorse,itshimmeredandflashedintothe nothingness.Itscall arose manyof the otherdemi-
spiritswhoturnedfromthe monsterouswerewolf whowasslicingthroughthe fog,scythe asilver
whirlwindthroughthe mist,sendingthe monstersbacktothe void.The otherstooka vaporform and
beganto headtowardsthe carriage andmy openwindow.Eli’seyesopenedwidewithhorrorandevenI
couldnot move,asif ice movedinmyveins.Againthe fearof these beatsparalyzed me andIwas sure
that the carriage wouldsoonbe full of vengeful ghostsif itwere notfora large crimsonarc thatslashed
throughthe air and cut down the cloudof spirits.Thornstoodsnarling,the moonstill playingabout,the
scythe glowingwith increasingenergyasitfedoff moonlight.The energyarcwassomethingMaddeus
had discoveredfromVala,asthe alphawarriorswere knownforthe abilitytoharness some
supernatural energyfromthe moonandturnit intoan almostkineticblastthatwould heatup
molecules,basicallycleavemostof whateverhappenedtobe inThorn’sway.DuringBloodMoon’sthe
energycrackledalongthe scythe andthe energycouldbe manipulatedbyThorninmanyways.Even
duringthe half-moon,hisscythe hadmanagedtodistractthe demi-spiritsagainandtheyfloatedaway
fromthe carriage back towardsMaddeus.I slammedthe window shutandwatchedthroughthe glassas
figure afterfigure appearedfromthe mistandtriedtoattack Thorn.One had longreptilianclawsthat

42. tore a goodportionof Thorn’sside.Howlingwithrage,he lashedoutwithhisclaw,and grabbed the
demi-spiritinhisgrasp.Eli whohadjoinedme at the window wasprayingfuriously,yethe couldnot
helpbutwatch the strangerwhocouldskinchange.Not onlythat,butnot evenIhad seenMaddeusable
to gripthe aetherformof any being.He seemedtochoke itandit struggledinhisgraspuntil itvanished
intothe air. Upon seeingthis,the otherdemi-spiritsdissolveduntilonlymorningdew hungonthe grass
bladesoutside the window. Maddeusgnashedhisteethinasortof victorysnap,and beganto make his
wayback to the carriage.Eli fell tothe floorholdingacross,it had notcrossedmy mindthe werewolf to
Eli was unknownasMaddeus,justanothercreature of the night.The carriage door swungopenand
Maddeusstoodleaninguponhiscane,perfectlyhumanagain,onlyhisearsshiftingbacktonormalcy
underneathhisdarkblondhair.Maddeussimplysmiledandtookhispreviousspotinthe carriage,
tippinghishatoverhiseyes.
“Looks like nomore disturbancestonight,whateverattackedusislonggone.Tryto get some sleep
before morning.It’salongtripto Charleston.”Almostimmediatelyhe dozedoff.Eli still shookwith
confusiontoexactlywhathadhappened.Itriedmybestto explain,butall Ihad was the truthwhich
seemedtoomuchforEli to bear.He pointedatthe sleepingbodyof Thorn.
“He isLupusDivinae?” InquiredEli.WhilemyLatinwasa bitrusty(Maddeuswasthe expert) Inodded.
“Maddeusis more thanhe seems.”Itriedto keepourconversationshort.Maddeussmiledfromunder
hishat.
“LupusInfernum mightbe more accurate.”He shuffledhimselfaboutandfell asleepagain.Eli shookhis
headand repeatedtohimself hisoriginal statementuntil Ifoundmyself sinkingbackintosleepaswell.
As we awoke,the sunwasbrightupona gorgeousfall day.While demi-spiritswere rare toshow in
sunlight,Eli wastednotime harnessingthe horsesandmakingourwaytowardsCharleston.Ifound

43. myself bombardingThornwithquestions,especiallyhow he wasable tograb a demi-spirit.Maddeus
onlyshookhishead.
“Valatoldme I hadhiddengifts,thoughwhatexactlytheyare orhow to use themI do not
know.All Iknewlastnightwas thatparticularspiritwascausingthe disturbance andIsenthimback.”
Maddeusstatedalmostmatter-of-factly.We discusseddifferentspiritsandIsharedsome knowledge I
had learnedwhilepursuingPernsbury’slibrary.Soonthe clipclopof the horsesletusknow we were
back on track to Charleston.
The town of Charlestonitselfwasasight,as the streetswere full of peoplegoingtoandfro,bargaining
withmerchantsonthe streetorin a hurry to reachsome importantmeeting.The wholecitybuzzedwith
life.Eli stabledthe horsesandwe made ourway ontothe street.Iwas enthralledbythe sightsand
structuresof the city,Maddeus’svoice bringingme backtoour statedgoal.
“Be on the lookoutfora Dr. Ascomb,if youfindhim, donot approach himbutfindme first.”Maddeus
relayed.Inodded,aswell asEli,andwe separatedintothe busystreets.
I soonfoundmyself inside of anoldtheaterwhere anoutrageousplaywasbeingperformed.Ashamed
to say,I foundmyself watchingthe playandlaughinginsteadof searchingforDr.Ascomb.Theatre had
alwaysbeenmyupbringingandmyparticularhobbyoutside of helpingMaddeuskillthe undead.The
playwas well writtenandeveryseatinthe theaterwasoccupied,soItooka spot uponthe back wall.It
was almostintermissionwhenIrealizedthe presence of ayoungwomanin a reddressnextto me.She
was surprisinglybeautifulandIfeltImust at leastattemptto talkto her.She noticedmyglance and
placeda fingeruponherlips,asto signal me to be silent.Hereyeswere the same bluishgreenasthe
oceanI had seenwalkingalongthe docks.She raisedherarmand pointedtowardsabox seat,highto
the leftof the stage.There sat an olderman witha longbushybrow,laughingalongwiththe play,two
youngergirls joininghiminthe apparentlyprivate seating.Ithitme like athunderbolt.The manmustbe

44. Dr. Ascomb.I turnedto confirmmysuspicionswiththe strange woman,butfoundmyself alone.Keeping
an eye onthe booth,Iwalkedthroughthe theaterdoorsandaskeda valetwhowaswalkingupthe
stairsif he hadseena blonde hairedwomaninared dress,he wouldhave hadto have seenherleaving.
The valetlookedatme as if I had lostmymind.
“Sir,there has notbeenanyone inor out of those doorsin the pastforty minutes.Ihave been
waitingalongthishallwayandhave notseenasoul pass throughuntil youjustnow.”The valetquickly
walkedaway,probablytoavoidanymore conversationwithanapparentmadman.Imyself beganto
questionexactlywhathad happeneduntil anoldusherwhohadbeensittingnearbyonacouch
smoking,wheezedwithlaughter.
“Pay nomindto that youngimbecile.YoulookingforGloria?She didn’tcome thisway,not
tonightat least.Oh,I see youwantto ask me where she is.Well,Icouldn’ttell you.Ihaven’tseenher
tonightthatis, butshe attendsplayshere andagain.See,she wasthe daughterof the ownerof this
theater,andhungherself backstage backwhenIwas a youngimbecile workinghere myself.”Continuing
hiswheezinglaughterthe usherplacedhiscigarette inthe ashtrayandwalkedpastme backthrough the
doors,the audience roaringwithlaughter.
I beganto run throughthe streetsof Charleston,almostshakenbymyencounter.Ihadto find
Maddeus,andI hadseen muchmore frighteningsightsthanthe ghostof a youngwoman,butnever
alone.The womanhadseemedsoreal,notlike anyapparitionIhad seenbefore.The whole encounter
had shakenme,andI feltasif ghostswere waitingforme behindeveryshadow inthe quicklydarkening
street.Itwas onlythe familiarface of Eli standingoutside of achurch that made me feel more atease.I
quicklymade mywayto himand askedhimif he knew where Maddeuswas.Eli noddedandpointed
towardsthe church’s graveyard.

45. “He spoke a bitwiththe priestandhas beenmullingaboutnearthatlarge Cyprustree back
there,lookingatheadstones.”Eli informedme.Thoughbecause of mypreviousencounterIdidnotwish
to walkintothe verylarge and eerie graveyard,the factImighthave locatedDr. Ascombgave me
enoughcourage to reachMaddeus.He had beencrouchingneara headstone,carefullyexaminingthe
writingwhenmyapproachmade himlookup.
“There youare Bram, Eli and myself have beenthroughtownandhave foundout some
interestingthingsaboutourfriendDr.Abscomb.Bythe way yourushedthroughthat gate,I’mguessing
youhave as well.”Maddeusobserved.
“Yes,I thinkI’ve foundhim.He’scurrentlyattendingaplay,I….uh,ran here tofindyouas quickly
as possible.”Maddeusquicklystoodup.
“AmazingBram,you mightjusthave a giftyourself. Come,Pernsburyhasdecidedtocome to
townafterall and we are to meethim.”Maddeusseemedcheerful ashe pickeduphiscane andwalked
past.It was thenI sawthe headstone Maddeushadbeenexaminingandalmostfainted.The name upon
the fadedstone read Gloria, deadfor almostfortyyears.I ran withhaste to catch up withMaddeus.
On the wayto findPernsburyIrelatedwhatI hadseento Maddeusandthe coincidental headstone.
Maddeussmiled.
“Yes Gloria,a prostitute whowaschargedwithpiracyand thievery,hungfromamakeshiftgallowsforty
yearsago. It waslike Icouldsee throughher eyes,amist,of what hadhappened.The factshe appeared
before youisa bitsurprisingandodd,but all the while helpful. Itwasthat strange feelingasI walked,I
couldalmostsmell afragrance in the air,it leadme to herstone.”Thisboth answeredthe questionof
whatMaddeus hadbeendoing,andhowhe had knownto lookat that particulartombstone. –Maddeus
wasyoung backthen and had little idea of his potentialor of the helpfulnessorthe very real dangers
thatlay within theworld between worlds—B.B. Maddeuspausedandranhishandthroughhishair,

46. removinghishat.I knewhe wastryingto smell Pernsburybutforthe sake of Eli,Maddeusmade a show
of runninghishandthroughhishair.
“Uck, you feel thatheat?The air isalmostwetdownhere,hardto keepa goodpace.” Eli walkedstraight
past usboth withoutlooking.
“Yes Mr. Thorn, andperhapsif you become tired alongthe wayplease don’tbeginpanting,youmight
worrysome.”Maddeuslaughedandfell inbehindEli.He hadboththe scentand a new respectforthe
man infrontof him.
It didnot take us longto locate Pernsbury,withMaddeusmaking‘lucky’turnsandhis‘gut’
instinct,butagainneitherEli norPernsburyboughtthe whole act.A glimpse of Thornwill dothatto
some. Eli musthave relatedwhathe had seentoPernsbury. Pernsburygrinned atusbothwith
amazement.
“You smelledme outdidn’tyou?Don’tlie,nomannew tothiscity wouldhave beenable to
navigate hiswayas youdid.Andthiscity isfull of smellsIimagine.”
“I’m gladto see the curse didnot dull anyof that ‘ol Pernsburywit.”Iquipped.
“It seemsourmutual friendhasdiscoveredthe locationof Dr.Abscombandmet a verylovely
southernbelle atthe same time fromwhatI’ve heard.”Maddeusgrinned.Pernsburygrabbedme bythe
shoulder.
“Really,whoisshe Bram? Youknow I mightknow her family,Iknow somanylinesgoingback
ages…” Pernsburybeganhisramble aswe walkedtowardsthe theater. Iknew he reallywishedtoget
me alone so we couldspeakmore onMaddeus andhismysteriousandseeminglyunrealabilities,but
Maddeuskepta veryfriendlysteprightbehindours.Before we reachedthe theater,Maddeusstopped.

47. “I’ll make youa deal Pernsbury,youhelpme catchDr. AbscombtonightandI’ll tell youenough
to write a book.”Pernsburyseemedthrilledatthe idea,Ifoundmyself insilentcontemptatthe idea. –
Thoughit seemedtoall workoutin the end.B.B.—Maddeustoldustostand infrontof the theater,and
whenthe playwasover,cause a fake row withsome unsavorystreettypesMaddeushadhiredtoplay
along,at leastI hopedwouldplayalong.Whilewe waited,andItriedto strike upa conversationwith
the sailorsto make sure I wouldn’tbe stabbedorthoroughlybeateninthe fake fight,Maddeusseemed
to grow increasinglyanxious.Finally,rightasthe sunset,the play letoutand people begantofloodthe
streets.Itwas time.Pernsburyactedasif a local sailorhaddisrespectedhimbyrunningintohim.The
fightbegan,andsure enough,Ifoundmyself inthe middle of chaos.People whowere justapartof the
crowd beganto fightwitheachother,shovingandthrowingfists.A large cane founditswayto the back
of myhead,the impactfeelingmore likeaclub.It knockedme tothe cobblestonesandbefore me stood
the man whoGloriahad firstdrawn myattention.ItwasDr. Abscomb,andhisface was curledina
vicioussneer.
“I saw youearlierwatchingme,andnow coincidentallyhereyouare again.You wouldn’tbe
followingme nowwouldyou?Thatwouldbe…well undesirableforyou.”He smiled,revealingsharp
teethlike I hadneverseenbefore.Vampireshadelongatedorsharpenedincisors,Thornhimself had
teethsimilartoa canine,butthisman’steethwere all sharppoints,like ashark or some horror froman
oldtale.Andindeedhe was,aswhile Iwason the ground,Maddeushad approachedfrombehindand
witha quickblowwithhisforearm,knockedDr.Abscombunconscious,wholandedrightbeside me.
Maddeusextendedhishandandhelpedme off the ground.Actingasif Dr. Abscombwas hismaster,Eli
playedhispartby pickingupthe unconsciousmanand movinghimquicklyawayfromthe riotingcrowd.
Awakeningtoourfacesdidlittle toimprove Dr.Abscomb’smood,ashe was tiedtoa chair withsilver
linedrope (atMaddeus’sbequest),Maddeushimself hadscratchedrunesandoutlinedacircle towhich
the chair was placedinthe middle.Forafew minutes,the doctoryelledobscenitiesandcursesatus,

48. possiblytotryand attract outside attention.However,we hadrentedadockhouse forthe nightand
where we were located, were assuredbythe ownerswhowere locals,hadbeenusedforsimilar
occupationsbefore.‘The Seadrownsoutmostof the soundof screamin’Ibelievewere the exactwords
used.Here Abscomb sat,helpless,howeverhisteethwere notthe sharprazor like onesIhadseen
earlier,butratherhumanoid.Afterafew minutesof lettinghimrantangrily,Maddeus tookabucketof
waterand threwitupon the doctor.Dr. Abscombscreamedandwriggledaboutlike asnake inhischair,
hiseyesfilledwithhatred.Then he begantochuckle,
“Water blessedbyapriest?Steal aholyman’sbucketdidyou?You’re gonna have to do a lot
betterthanthat if you planon killingme.”PernsburyandEli steppedback,bothalarmedatthe reaction
of the doctor.Maddeusswunghiscane and as itcaught he moonlight,the blade stoppedinchesfrom
Dr. Abscomb’sneck.Dr.Abscombsmiledandspatthe waterin hismouthout uponthe dockhouse.
“Nowthere isthe Thorn I’ve heardso muchabout, pleasure tofinallymeetyouface toface.I
knewyouwouldeventuallycome lookingforme.Vala’spup,all grownup.Too badshe nevergot to see
it.”Dr Abscomb’steethenlongatedagain,andshimmerednexttothe sharpblue steel of the scythe.
Maddeus’seyesfilledwithafire Ihad not seenbefore andhe tookhisscythe awayfromthe doctor’s
throat.Dr. Abscombsmiled,
“Nowthat’sbetter,perhapswe can talkafter…”Before he couldfinish,withblazingspeed,
Maddeusreversedthe scythe andtookoff the doctor’sright hand.It thumpedtothe groundand a black
ooze leakedfromhiswound,notblood.
“You say hername in yourfilthymouthagainandnexttime Iwill cleave youinhalf.”Thorn
warnedthe doctor throughanotherfitof mad screamsand curses.

49. “Fine!Fine!Whatisit youwant?Why have youcome all the wayhere justto findme?”
Maddeusflickedhiswristandthe blackooze flew fromthe blade andontothe oldwood,it seemedto
almostburnwhenit contactedthe wood.
“I want to knowwhatis AgnosisLuniox? AndwhoisValamir? Perhapsdoctoryoucould
enlightenusuponthe details,asmyfriendBramhere and I have beenlookingquiteawhile forthe
meaningbehindthesenames.”Maddeusinquired.Dr.Abscombrolledhisheadandbegantochuckle,
slowlyatfirst,butgrewlouderandquickeruntil Maddeusalmostshiftedforms,alarge clawedhand
grabbingthe doctor’sthroat and pickinghimupintothe air. I almostintervenedbutDr.Abscombsimply
hungin Thorn’sgrasp,laughing.
“Why youdon’tevenknowthe significanceof itdoyou, it isall lostonyou.I will sayit is
connectedtoone of the mostpowerful eventspossibleandyouyourself shouldknow thisfirsthand…or
didthe wolf notraise the pup?”Dr. Abscombchose hiswordscarefully,he knew Maddeuswouldnot
hesitate tokill him.Maddeussnarled.
“A storynothingmore,an ancientrite andbelief longagoextinguished.Icertainlyhope youcan
do betterthanthat.“ The doctor was runningshortonbreath.His teethbaredbackintothe fine pointsI
had seenearlier.Thistime hisgaze turnedtowardsmyself andPernsbury.Hiseyeslitupyellow,then
turnedred.
“Andwhat of your friendMaddeus?Are youpreparedtodie fora cause youdo notevenfully
understand?”Ifeltmyself almostunderstanding,feelingsympathytowards Dr.Abscombandangerthat
Maddeuswas deliberatelywithholdinginformationfromafriendsuchasmyself.Itooka stepforward,
Maddeussaw thisandwitha roar slammedthe doctorthroughthe dockhouse wall.Dustandwoodflew
everywhere asMaddeus,nowinmoonlight,heldthe doctorupfurther,eithertocrushhimor seemingly
throwhimintothe water.

50. “I am in nomood foryour half-breedtricks,if youwanttocontinue thisgame,Ishall gladly
throwyou to yourownpenitence.”The doctorgrippedthe arm of Maddeus,and the smell of sulferand
burningfurfilledthe air.Maddeus,withayell of pain,droppedDr.Ascombontothe deck.Maddeus
couldnot restrainhimself.Hisskingrewblackhair,the bonessnappingandelongating,the
transformationof Thorn.The doctor laughedasThorn lookeddown,hisownyellow eyesblazingand
teethbaredinhisgrowl.
“Half-breed,itmaybe sobut I’ve servedmypurpose here.Soulshe needs,soulshe collects.As
for AgnosisLuminox,I’mafraid Iamunwillingtotell you.Ishall be welcomeinhell…”He didnotgeta
chance to finish.Maddeusswunghiscane,now the viciousscythe andbroughtitdownhard uponthe
deck.It however,wasonlyclose tothe doctor’sface.Abscombgrinned,hispointedteethglinting
dangerously.
“Gettinga bitrusty? Or didyouwant to threatenme?Rememberdemonbloodflowsthrough
these veins,youcannotkill me.I’mnotlike the othernightcreaturesyoudispatchsoeasily,Icannotbe
threatened.SoIask youThorn,why come all thisway for what youcall an oldtale,and desire tofindthe
one whowill bringeternal night?”The doctor’ssmile wideneduntil Thornwasnomore but instead
Maddeus,grippingthe wolf’sheadinhishand.
“Why Dr. Abscomb,Icame to findwhetherornotthe old taleswere true ornot, andwithyour
acknowledgementof it,itistrue.”Maddeusgave a slightsmile andtuggedonhishat,turningback
towardsPernsburyandI,who stoodawestruckforseeingthe transformationfirsthand.The doctor
raisedhimself upandhisface almostinhuman,teethbared,leapttowardsthe backof Maddeus.Instead
of reachingMaddeus,the dockcrackedwhere the scythe hadhit,and the doctor crashedintothe water.
Maddeuskeptwalking,howeverPernsbury,Eli,andmyself decidedtosee whathappenedtothe doctor.
Dr. Abscombtreadedwaterfora second,spittingoutseawaterandcursingina foreigntongue –B.B.I

51. wouldlaterlearnthistobe a formof hellspeech--.Suddenly,ghostlyhandsreachedfromthe moonlit
waterand graspedthe doctor.There were dozensof them, ghostlyfiguresinthe water,men,women,
children.The sightwashorrifying,asthe doctorgave a scream before the handspulledhimbackinto
the sea,silencinghisscreamwithagasp of seawater.Maddeusneverturnedaround,butsmiledashe
walkedalongthe docks.
“You see gentlemen,sometimesyourcrimes,especiallyonesyouthinkyoucanhide by
disposinginthe sea,mightcome backfor you.”PernsburyandEli quicklyranto catch up withMaddeus,
no doubtshaken bythe whole affair.Ihoweverstoodwatchingoverthe silentwater,untilafigure
appearednearthe edge of the deck.It was Gloria,inthe moonlightshe lookedstunning,herlipsfulland
the beautiful womanshe hadbeenbeforeapparentlyDr.Abscombhadtakenherlife forhisown
purposes.She winkedatme and blewme a kiss,whichwithremovingmyhatand a small bow,I
acknowledgedandcaughtherspiritedgesture.Withagiggle she seemedtodissolvebackintothe mist
that rolledinfromthe sea,and I turnedtocatch up withmycompanions,feelingthatGloriahadfinally
foundherpeace.
We triedtostay inconspicuous,stayingata hotel thatwas more of a casino/brothel,butitwas
inconspicuous,especiallysince sailorshadbeentellingtalesof amonstrousbeastuponthe docks.It was
a devil,noa seamonster,noa man-wolf.Of course,manylaughedthese talesoff asthe drunken
embellishmentsof tiredsailors,butsome wouldgaze atme as if theyknew the whole truth. The worst
encounterwasa sailoralmoststabbingPernsburywho hadlaughedathisrecountof seeingaman
transformintoa wolf witha large blade thatverynight.The sailorhad sat at the bar and ordereda jug
of rum.His skinhadthe leatheryappearance of one whohasspenta lot of time uponthe seasand
tattoosto match. Whenhe took the glassinhis handsand toldthe tale to the barkeepandthe fewwho
sat at the bar,Pernsburyhadlaughedtotry to avoidsuspicion.Perhapsitwashisvoice,orthe wayhe
had laughedbutthe sailorhadput a large knife toPernsbury’sthroatina blinkof an eye.

52. “Smart one,eh?Thinksye knowsitall because youwentto yourfancyschool withyour other
prissyfriends?I’ve beenhangingfromthe topsail linessince Iwasbuta small lad,andI’ve seenthings
no otherman hasseenbefore.Dare tocall me a liar?”Eli hadtakenan axe from nearthe fireplace and
restedituponthe back of the sailor.
“Pardonsir, butI do not believe anyoneiscallingyoualiar.Mr. Pernsburyonlymighthave
laughedbecause he isdrunk,butthere isno needforviolence.”Eli’svoicewasdeadcalm.The bar had
fallenassilentandmanya man glancedaroundquickly,almostwaiting/wantingafighttobreakloose.
Pernsburybroke all the tension.
“Eli put that axe down,sir,I do believe we have amisunderstanding.Isimplywaslaughingatthe
ideaof a man-wolf,Iimagineitmustbe hard to chase downthe female wolvesinthe woodsontwo
legs.”The sailorgave an uproariouslaughandpulledPernsburyupbackintohisseat,where Pernsbury
furtherestablishedagoodreputationbybuyingthe drinksforthe night.Itooka quicklookat Maddeus
whowas sittingbythe fire warminghisfeetinarockingchair, pipe lit,apungentodorwaftingfromthe
risingsmoke. He smiledatPernsbury’sjoke,thoughIsecretlyknew he wasinhisbroodingmoods.Had
Pernsburybeenanyone else,Maddeusmighthave reactedabitdifferently.
As the nightgrewon,we became more and more intoxicated,andPernsburyandEli hadpassedout
upona couchon the veranda.I foundmyself inasleepyhaze,recallingeventswithaBritishsailorabout
battlesof old,andrecenttalesof legal pirates,Privateers,givenawritand allowedtoattackmerchant
ships.Maddeushadfounda game of cards and wascausinga scene bywinninghandafterhand,he had
attracteda young,blonde female inabodice thatbarelycoveredherchest,apurple corsetand redlips.
She hungupon MaddeusandthoughI have neverseenMaddeusreallyrelate withthe opposite sex so
well,itseemedevenhe washavingfun. The restof the nightwasfilledwithlaughterandmerriment,no
spiritsordemonsto concernourselveswith.