Page 4 of Jacob Michaels Is Not Jacob Michaels

“What was that, Ernst?” I shook my head as a shiver overtook my body. “Were those…”

“Werewolves?” He squeaked out. “If I were ta put muh money on it…aye, sir.”

“The moon isn’t full.” I shivered again.

The mud and muck that had caked on the back of me felt cold and gritty and crackly and did nothing to make me feel better kneeling there in Oma’s kitchen. If I had been so inclined, I was sure that I could have peeled the mud off in one big frozen piece. I felt stiff and woozy…and alive.

“What did I do?” I asked, my eyes finally opened to peer into Ernst’s exaggerated wide-eyed face. “What happened? How did I do…that?”

“I wouldn’t be knowin’, sir.” He shook his head ever so slightly.

“I know.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry, Ernst. It’s just—”

I placed a hand on his head. A jolt went through me, memories flashing through my head rapidly. A fleeting glimpse of a past long since forgotten.

I was young. Ernst and I were sitting on my bed, reading a book. Ernst and I washing dishes together. Ernst and I jumping out and startling another of the Kobolds—Lena maybe?

Gasping, I yanked my hand away from Ernst and stared at him, aghast. My hands went to the side of my head again as I rose to my feet and stumbled away from him backward, my eyes shutting tightly, as though that would block out the things in my head. I shook my head and gasped for breath as the memories fluttered through my head like a film reel flapping to an end, slapping against a projector.

Slap. Slap. Slap.

“Stop it!” I growled, slapping my hands against the side of my head.

Suddenly, it felt as though something went through me, from the top of my head down to my feet. I felt empty. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I heard a giggle.

Did you see that?

“What?” I gasped.

Then the memories were gone. I opened my eyes as my hands cautiously slid from the sides of my head. Ernst was standing in front of me, wringing his hands and looking up at me; concern etched all over his face. Suddenly and inconceivably, I suddenly missed Lucas. The longing to see him felt like a cord pulling my stomach downwards. When was the last time I had seen him? I wanted desperately to hold him, to kiss him, to have him hold and kiss me.

“What is it, sir?” He whispered.

“Ernst.” I swallowed again. “I have something I need to do. I need you to check to make sure Oma is okay. Check on the other…your kin.”

“I can do tha’, sir.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

Stepping away from where I had backed up against the counter, I made my way around Ernst and across the kitchen.

“I’m going to…go clean up,” I said neutrally. “I’ll…I’ll see you in the morning. Um, later today.”

But Ernst was gone. He had disappeared into the shadows to, presumably, check on the other Kobolds and, hopefully, Oma. As I stood in the kitchen, still shivering, I wondered if maybe I shouldn’t pop my head into Oma’s room to make sure she was okay, to see that she was fine for myself. However, I somehow knew she was safe and fast asleep. If something had happened to Oma, I probably would have heard her cussing and carrying on. Instead of checking in on my grandmother, trusting that Ernst would do as he promised, I made my way through the house to the stairs. I needed to strip off my muddy clothes and clean myself off. Once inside of my room again, I grabbed my cell phone, and with shaky hands, shot off a text.

Twenty minutes later, I was clean and in fresh pajamas, quietly opening the front door of the house. Lucas was standing on the front porch, still in his pajamas but with a Carhartt coat thrown on over them, bleary-eyed, hair standing up in all directions. I could tell that he had tried to pat it down to look more presentable but had failed miserably. Even his mussed hair made my heart leap. I quickly ushered him inside, closing the door behind him swiftly but quietly before locking it again. Lucas stood in the foyer, looking at me quizzically as I locked the door.

“Come over right now but be super careful?” He cocked an eyebrow at me. “What’s goin’ on, babe?”

“I just…” I turned to stare at him.

“Are you okay, Rob?” He looked as concerned as I would have expected after having received such a desperate, cryptic text at one o’clock in the morning.

“No.” I shivered again.

Then Lucas’ arms were pulling me into him. I folded my arms in so that he was hugging all of me against his chest. As soon as my body connected with his, I felt that feeling again. It was that feeling of being alive and powerful—just like when I had burned the wolves. Something that I felt had been missing, something that had once made me feel like Robert Wagner, something I hadn’t even known was missing, was back for the briefest of moments. Before I could stop myself, I had pried my arms out from between our bodies and placed my hands on either side of his head. My lips found his, and I kissed him desperately, as though I were a man lost in a desert and his lips were water. Lucas gasped in shock, yet appreciatively, as I fed at his mouth. His arms pulled me tightly into him as I kissed him passionately, needing to taste him.

“Rob.” He gave a nervous laugh as I pulled away from his mouth.