There was a gaping hole in the library, smoke curled from the edges, and dust was still settling to the ground. Four werewolves lay dead, the silver slivers embedded in their fur glinting in the dim lights still flickering in the wall sconces.
Kate strode with sword in hand to the hole and threw a vial through the entrance. A plume of golden dust billowed, then began to solidify into what appeared to be a large slab of amber. The orange crystal filled the gap in the wall.
“That’s a keen thing there, that amber.” Penny rose from behind an overturned table, dusting off her breeches. She raised her powerful blunderbuss to her shoulder.
“Just an old alchemy experiment that never came to anything,” Kate remarked. “Use another one of those bombs inside and you’ll bring the house down on us.”
“Good news, then. I’m out of them. On your left!”
A werewolf entered the library from the inner door. Penny dodged a savage swipe as Kate stabbed her sword into the exposed chest. Her aim was off, but still the beast curled inward over the pain. She fell back and Penny let fly with the heavy gun. A flash of flame and smoke accompanied the earsplitting boom. The werewolf was pounded into the wall, smashing against portraits and knickknacks. It tumbled awkwardly to the rug and shuddered. Its chest was littered with a collection of silver knives and forks.
“The family silver is finally worth something,” Kate said with a measure of pride and exhilaration, nodding toward a pile of silverware on a table. “Fresh batch?”
“No time!”
Another werewolf streaked through the door. Kate and Penny both raised pistols and fired. The silver balls ripped through the werewolf. It stumbled, then flopped hard to the ground.
“My ammunition is almost spent.” Penny hastily reloaded her pistol.
“Then let’s retreat and hold the line downstairs.” Kate hated to think how many of the beasts were already inside and how many humans they could have killed on the way in.
The two women made for the door to the wine cellar, stepping over the numerous carcasses. Behind them, a trio of werewolves snarled their way through the tight doorway into the library, back on their haunches with their hackles on end. Their claws dug deep into the wooden flooring as they inched forward. Kate threw her last amber vial. The three creatures couldn’t avoid the golden fumes and immediately became encased in a sticky ocher resin, unable to move, trapped like insects from a bygone age.
Kate and Penny raced down a staircase to a wide landing, where Hogarth waited outside a single door. He carried a massive war hammer in his hands. He moved up a few steps to provide cover. Kate took a set of keys from Hogarth. “Inside!”
She unlocked the door and they rushed into the chamber. Kate swung the thick door shut, throwing the bolt. Hogarth and Penny pushed a heavy rack of oaken barrels in front of it. The wine cellar was huge, easily stretching under half of the house. It had a high-vaulted brick ceiling. The walls were stacked with rack after rack of wine bottles. Flickering lamps created terrifying shadows.
Imogen sat in a simple wooden chair. Her face was blank, but there was a cold terror in her eyes. Her hands were clutched in her lap, wringing with worry. “You have to go.”
Kate replied, “Hush, dear. Everything will be fine. We can’t go just yet.”
“You, Kate. You have to go.”
Kate stared at her sister, mystified by the remark. She came forward and embraced her.
The door abruptly shuddered. Hogarth and Penny braced themselves against the desk.
“We’re safe here.” Kate stroked her sister’s arm. “I won’t leave you. Ever.”
Imogen slowly looked up, directly into Kate’s eyes. Her lips quivered. “They’re not here for me.”
Before Kate could reply there was another earsplitting crack against the door. Hogarth exclaimed, “They’re coming through!”
The door broke apart as a massive blade cut through the thick mahogany wood like it was paper. Gretta Aldfather ripped the door to pieces and smashed her way inside, shoving the rack and barrels easily out of the way.
Hogarth swung the great hammer in a wide arc, striking the side of a werewolf’s head with a loud crunching sound. Before he could bring his maul to bear again, Gretta swept Hogarth and Penny aside like toys. The werewolf’s gaze fell on Kate.