“Perhaps I should have used the word pack, instead,” said Edward. “At heart the wolves are just animals, driven by needs and instincts. Which made it easy for the greater monsters to put them to work. The other Clans never accepted the werewolves as equals, because they were human part of the time.”
“The Frankensteins were human,” said Daniel.
“Not after everything they’d done to themselves,” said Edward.
“Is that why the Clans never accepted you?” said Tina. “Because you were Jekyll as well as Hyde?”
Edward glared at her coldly. “I haven’t been merely human in a long time. What matters is that now the monster Clans are gone, the werewolves are free.” He smiled suddenly. “What do you suppose they’ll do, now the other Clans aren’t here to hold them back? Can’t you just see them, in their fur . . . running through city streets at night and howling at the moon? Hunting down men, women, and children and tearing them to pieces, and feasting on the remains . . . because wolves have always preyed on people.”
“And reveal their existence to the modern world, after all these years?” said Daniel. “I mean, we’ve all seen the movies. These days everyone knows about silver bullets.”
“But would people believe?” said Edward. “How many would have to die, or be bitten and changed, before the authorities could bring themselves to do what was necessary? To put aside arrests and trials in favor of a silver bullet through the head? It’s been a long time since Humanity knew for a fact that monsters were real. People have got soft. The wolves will take advantage of that, now they’re free. We need to stop them while we still can.”
“You don’t have to convince me,” said Tina. “Just point me at them.”
Daniel nodded in agreement, glad to be back on familiar ground again.
“It’s really just a mopping-up operation,” said Edward. “To make sure the wolves don’t move into the gap left by the other monsters.”
“But the werewolves have dropped out of sight,” said Daniel.
“You said there was an internal power struggle going on,” said Tina.
“All down to me, I’m afraid,” said Edward. “When the wolves learned I was finally ready to destroy the monster Clans, they started to get ideas above their station. They removed themselves from the battleground so they could emerge when the danger was over and all their rivals were gone.”
“But you only launched your attack a few days ago,” said Tina. “And the wolves have been missing in action for weeks.”
“I’m not the only one with inside men,” said Edward. “All the Clans knew I was planning something—but only the wolves believed I could do it.”
“What made them so sure?” said Daniel.
“Because I’ve had dealings with them. They know what I’m capable of.”
“What kind of dealings?” said Tina.
Edward grinned. “The profitable kind. Right now there’s an argument going on among the leaders of the pack, the alpha wolves. Over what the clan should do, now there’s no one left to stop them. You can’t blame them for getting a bit excited; the other Clans kept them on a very short leash. And wolves have always been very good at scenting which way the wind is blowing.”
“What about the ghouls?” said Daniel.
Edward stared at him. “What?”
“They’re a clan too . . . aren’t they?”
“Well yes, but they’re just creatures with appetites.” Edward glowered at Daniel, irritated at being driven off message. “They’re no threat. They’ll work for anyone who’ll hide them from the public gaze. The wolves are the real danger, and my people have discovered where the alpha males will be meeting tonight.”
“They’re going ahead with a gathering?” said Daniel. “After everything that’s happened?”
“Nothing so organized,” said Edward. “The alphas are meeting to fight it out for control of the pack. Whichever one comes out on top, the rest of the pack will follow unquestioningly.”
“How many alphas are we talking about?” said Tina.
“Maybe twenty,” said Edward. “Nothing you can’t handle.”
“Where do we look for them?” said Daniel.
“Elstree Park,” said Edward. “The nearest thing to a wild place left in London.”
“What about witnesses?” said Daniel. “There are bound to be some, no matter how late it is. People go to a park for all kinds of reasons.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” said Edward. “People’s instincts will be enough to keep them out of the park tonight.”
“How are we supposed to kill the alpha males?” said Tina. “Load up with silver bullets and shoot anything that goes furry in the moonlight?”
“Pretty much,” said Edward. “Except . . . you can’t simply open fire the moment you see them. When threatened, the wolves attack as a pack. You might pick off a few, but the rest would be sure to bring you down. You need to stand back and let the alpha wolves fight each other to the death, and then move in to finish off the survivors. Without leaders, the pack will turn on each other. It’ll be a bloodbath, and by the time they’re done there won’t be enough of them left to pose a real threat. We can put on our hunting pink, and chase them through the streets at night.” Edward laughed softly. “Perhaps I’ll make a killing, supplying wolf skins to the fur trade.”
And then they all looked round as Miss Montague entered quietly through the open door. The nice little old lady in charge of the armory smiled sweetly as she moved forward to join them, carrying a heavy leather case. Edward laughed softly, his eyes sparkling with malice.
“Come in, my dear Esme! It’s not often you grace me with your presence.”
“There’s a reason for that,” said Miss Montague. “But now the war against the monsters is finally reaching its conclusion, I thought I’d bring your people the appropriate weapons in person. Because there are things they need to know.”
She gave Edward a look that Daniel didn’t understand at all. Edward stared calmly back at her.
“It’s been a long time,” said Miss Montague.
“You were the one who walked away,” said Edward.
“I’m still embarrassed at how long it took me to realize you were never going to care about me,” said Miss Montague.
He grinned at her. “Did you care, as long as we ended up in bed?”
The little old lady smiled briefly. “It’s always the bad boy who makes the good girl’s heart beat that little bit faster.”
“You saw yourself as a good girl?” said Edward. “After all the missions we worked together? And all the things you did for me?”
“I was good compared to you,” said Miss Montague. “And in the end, I walked away to save my soul.”
Edward shrugged. “But you still stuck around, making yourself useful. I like that in a woman.”
“You haven’t changed a bit,” said Miss Montague.
“You have,” said Edward. “You got old. It’s your own fault. I did offer you the Elixir.”
“I never wanted it,” said Miss Montague. “I saw what it did to people. They stopped being those people, and turned into Hydes.”
Edward turned abruptly to face Daniel and Tina, who didn’t even try to conceal how much they were enjoying the situation. Edward smiled sardonically.
“You’ll have to give me a moment. It seems Esme and I have some old history to deal with, before we can move on.”
“Of course,” Daniel said lightly. “Take all the time you need. I’m sure Tina and I can find something to keep us occupied, while you and Miss Montague admire the scenery down memory lane.”
He would have said more, but Edward’s gaze was getting colder by the moment, and Daniel decided this would be a good time to put some space between him and Edward. He set off for the far side of the lab, and after one last searching look at Edward and Miss Montague, Tina went after him. They pretended to take an interest in some particularly complex glass tubing, while keeping their hearing focused on Edward Hyde and Miss Montague. Distance was no object to Hyde senses. Daniel was pretty sure Edward knew that; he was just making a point about privacy.