by Volentrin

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While I looked forty, I was over 400 hundred years old. I knew I was older, but I had not the benefit of an education, way back then. I didn't learn much, until later in my adult life. So I didn't know my actual birth date.

I was a half-breed. Part human, part Faery. I was one of the last known half breeds I knew about. The Fae were mostly gone from the world by the time I was born. They had withdrawn in self defense from the humans over running their natural habitat.

I was currently living in the mountains of Montana, in a very out of the way place. I was outside splitting logs for firewood as a very cold winter was expected, when I got that feeling of being watched. Being who and what I am, I was sensitive to this.

This had been going on all summer and fall, and I was finding it not a little annoying. The only question to ask was if it was 'official Government' watching, or was it something or someone else. If I had attracted government attention, my life was going to be altered drastically, and not for the best, if you asked me. 'Government involvement', to the best of my knowledge, was NEVER for the betterment of the individual. It was ALWAYS for the betterment of government.

If it were a private agency or person, then I could handle it easily. He, she, or they just needed to make a move, to get the ball rolling. If it were 'big brother' finally closing in on me after all these years, then it was trouble. A person of my age would be a treasure to the government.

Over the years I had learned many crafts. I had been plumber, electrician, home builder, carpenter, chef, dam builder, road builder, construction worker, blacksmith, rail layer, surveyor, just to name a few. You learned a lot over a 400 year period of time, even if you didn't really try to.

I had built this home in the mountains myself, with only a bit of help from the crew that brought my timber. The home was a log lodge that was put together like a puzzle. No reason to waste a trained crew. I'd had them put up the shell, then I did all the finish work myself.

It took all summer, and part of the fall, but I had a nice snug house ready for my first winter, with only a bit of help from the locales when I needed muscle. I was spending a lot of time chopping wood to the right size to burn in my kitchen stove this winter. I had a huge amount done, already. I had previously done the same for the fireplace.

I had a thousand gallon LP gas tank for my gas furnace and gas refrigerator, which would last the entire winter, easily. I had a ten K generator, compliments of an auction of surplus US ARMY equipment. The same auction, was how I came by my jeep and trailers.

I had a five hundred gallon tank of unleaded gasoline on hand at all times. Water was supplied by a well, forty-five feet deep, under my kitchen sink. It worked two ways: Electric pump, or old fashioned pump handle and muscle power. The bodily waste disposal was the last item to be built, but it was snug and finished in time for winter.

I had two refrigerators, one deep freezer, and a huge pantry for food storage. I made sure I had at least two months supply of food on hand, at all times. I was good for ninety days, if I stretched it. The problem with where I lived was you got snowed in.

It was getting harder to find parts for my army jeep, as it was thirty years since production was last done on this model. I still had a small replacement parts supply, but I was going to have to get a new jeep sometime soon.

I did have the opposite end of the military Jeep. I had a Hummer. However, I wanted another Jeep, for when the Army Jeep was no longer running.

The mountains of Montana were a magnificent backdrop to live in, and I had my privacy, usually. But now I was being watched, and I found it annoying to say the least. I started focusing. I located two watchers very quickly.

They had the house totally covered between them. If I was going to confront them, it would have to be done openly. I went inside the house and got down my modified 30/30 (which was a semi-automatic, having been reworked by yours truly).

Yes, I had been an armorer at one time in my life, and still had the tools. Like I said, in 400 years, you learned a lot. It was hard not to. I loaded a magazine into my rifle, and went outside. I fired a few feet above the head of first one watcher, then the other.

Both raised up with hands high, screaming at me, "Don't shoot!"

I instructed them to come to the porch and they stumbled though the snow, anxious to please. I had a foot and a half accumulation already, and more was forecast for this weekend. The clouds were already gathering for the next storm.

They turned out to be agents for my insurance company. Someone got curious about my family and the longevity they displayed in the past, and collected on. I had been with this insurance company since 1892. I sighed.

"You sound like an episode of 'The Highlander'," I told them with a chuckle.

"Pardon?" the first one asked me.

"You know, Connor McCloud was using the name John Gnash, and the police and an associate of the police were investigating our hero. They decided he was much older than he appeared to be, seemingly aging and leaving his money and equipment to himself, in a new identity," I responded.

"We think the same thing," the first representative said.

"We could make trouble for you if we informed the authorities of your ability to not age," the second one stated.

"I suppose, if it were true. However, I am not too worried by small time blackmailers. Take your threats, get out, and never come back. If you do, I'll be forced to kill you," I told them, deadly serious.

"You can't threaten us!" The first one said.

"Sure I can. Didn't you just threaten me?" I asked him curiously.

"That's different. We would only inconvenience you, not kill you!" the second man responded.

"Let's see, here. You're trespassing, attempting blackmail, communicating a threat... Hmm, I have the feeling justifiable homicide is my outlook. I am alone up here, and there are two of you. You two came and threatened me. I was fearful for my life, and took appropriate action," I told them unblinkingly.

I got their IDs and memorized their addresses. They got nervous when I did that. I was already getting ready to change IDs once again. It was time. I had already gotten an illegal alien registered as my alternate, and sent him to school under that name. Once enough time went by I would assume that ID, the alien would be given forged papers, and that would be that. A seamless transition.

While it was difficult to get false IDs in this day and age of post 9-11, it was not impossible. I had figured out a good way of reusing birth certificates and registering someone as my alternate to give myself a history.

When I had a contact in the federal government, it had been much easier. She had retired ten years before, but she had given me several good ideas on how to get around the checks and become real, illegally.

I used a charm I knew from long ago. I spoke it in Gaelic, and cast it at the two insurance men. They went slack jawed for a brief time as my spell took effect. I quickly instructed them, then released them from the charm. They both blinked, then followed the directions I gave them. The best thing about being a half-breed Fae, was magic worked, for me!

The first time I had a rhyme actually work for me, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Words were power, and you had to be careful what and how you said things. At least, I did. I had learned the hard way to watch how and when I said something, or wished something.

It was two days after my erstwhile blackmailers had gone, that it started snowing seriously. It was coming down at the rate of six inches an hour, falling heavily, with no signs of stopping.

I put another log on the fire and sighed contentedly.

Supper that night had been very good. A rib eye steak, steamed Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, and home made gravy. All in all, it was a very good meal. I had enough steak left over, to make a healthy sized sandwich for tomorrow's lunch.

I sighed again and looked at my trophies that were hung on the wall of my living room. A shield with a coat of arms, was in a glass case filled with inert gas, to keep it from deteriorating. Several swords, a gun case with an old Henry, a Winchester, and a Colt pistol and holster were similarly protected. All were items I had used during my long life.

Each item could tell its own story if it could but talk. The shield had saved my life on numerous occasions. The swords had been staunch weapons. I had killed a number of foes, and had defended myself with all of them.

The rifles and pistol were compliments of my time in the old west. I had made a fortune, and lost most of it, back then. Hell, I had made several fortunes over the centuries. I still had access to one of them. I used that one very rarely.

I had fought in the American civil war for the South. Politically, I agreed with the North; but monetarily, the South paid better. So I followed the money.

I had been a pay officer at the end of the war, and still had a load of southern silver and gold at my disposal. I had kept it when the South fell, and had disappeared with it into the old west.

I was thinking about making the trip out to where I had the money hidden, to dig up a pay chest when I heard something that gave me a chill. A howling I had not heard in over two hundred years. WEREWOLF! Damn!

I had thought the last werewolves were dead, over two hundred years ago. I should have known better. They were survivors. But here in Montana? I went to my closet. I got out my silver bullets, and my sword.

This sword was special in that it had runes of power engraved upon it, as well as a goodly amount of silver in the blade. It was more than capable of taking a werewolf apart, or a vampire, for that matter. I had killed two vampires with this very sword in the past. A werewolf would be no problem at all.

The main question was, who was this werewolf, and how long had it been in Montana? Had it already infected others? Was it an alpha with a pack? Did it belong to a pack? Was it a loner? I was going to have to track it, and kill it, most likely.

The next day, I got up early. I dug out my snowshoes, and my heavy jacket. I strapped on my gun and sword belt, and started my search. I had taken a magical reading, so I knew in which direction to go, to find the werewolf. When I did find it, I was totally surprised!

I found a naked female in a grove of trees, lying in the snow, unconscious. Wow, a female werewolf. They were very rare, indeed. Most females didn't survive the transition to being a werewolf, which was why females were not singled out, except to kill.

Yet here was a female werewolf right in front of me. I could see it as clearly as you would read an address. It was obvious to my 'sight' that she was a werewolf, even though she was currently a naked human female, and a very lovely one at that.

I picked her up, and she didn't wake. I made my way to my home with her. By the time I arrived at my house, I was ready to drop her and myself to the ground, in exhaustion. She didn't look that heavy, but two and a half miles on snowshoes, will make anything seem incredibly weighty.

I dressed her in a t-shirt to give her a little modesty, put her in my bed, and covered her up. I went to the kitchen and started making pancakes, eggs, sausage, and bacon. I also mixed some orange juice from frozen concentrate.

Just about the time I was contemplating going and trying to wake my guest, she came out, dressed in the old sweats I had laid out for her.

"Ah, good morning. I was just about to come and get you for breakfast," I said calmly.

"Uh, who are you and how did I get here?" she asked, a bit concerned.

"I found you in the snow a couple miles from here, naked. I thought you would be more comfortable recovering from your transformation here than there, so I carried you here," I stated.

"Transformation?" She asked, playing it off.

"Yes, from werewolf back to human. I can see you are a female werewolf. You are very rare. I was surprised to see you, actually. I went out looking for a male werewolf to kill, and saw you instead. I did not have the heart to kill you unawares," I finished baldly.

"You think I am a werewolf?" She asked, faking incredulity very well.

"Naturally. I have 'the sight' you know. I am half human, half Fae," I said by way of explanation.

She sighed.

"I have not run across the Fae before. I know they can see right through us, though," she said.

"Yes, very easily. It is obvious to me and others with 'the sight', what you are. So, tell me how you became a werewolf? You are very rare. Most werewolves are males," I told her.

"It's a simple story really. I was dating a guy who was a werewolf. I had no idea at the time, of course, but he infected me. He wanted me to stay with him throughout his long life. I, of course, objected to what he had done to me. We fought, and I wound up killing him," she replied sadly.

I was surprised at her blatant statement of having killed someone. Most people don't handle killing someone that easily. We talked some more. She ate and ate, stuffing herself on the meal I had prepared.

Finally, she pushed back from the table and sighed. She was finally full, and was feeling comfortable.

"I am very careful to stay away from people when I transform. I will have to leave before night comes, and the moon comes out. I want to thank you for your help, though. You have been most kind," she said.

"Listen, suppose they was a way to protect yourself from the transformation?" I asked her.

"What do you mean? Protect myself? I don't understand," she responded.

"I mean, what if I can do a spell to keep you from transforming? Would you stay, then?" I asked curiously.

She perked up at that, then slumped.

"Nothing can stop a transformation. Once the moon is out, I will change, and I have to be away from people or I might hurt them," was her reply.

"Obviously you have never met a Fae before. I think I can do a spell that will keep you from transforming. It will take a couple hours to get it done, but it should work," I said thoughtfully.

"Have you ever done one before?" She asked eagerly.

"No. I never had a reason to. But, as I think on it, it is a pretty straightforward spell. I am sure I can do it," I said firmly.

She sighed disappointedly.

"I had thought... I mean, when you said that, I had hoped you had experience with this spell. I had better just take myself away and try to find an empty place to make the transformation," she said dejectedly.

"Nonsense! I insist you give me the chance to prove myself to you. Besides, if I am successful, then you have nothing more to worry about. You will only transform if you wish, and not involuntarily," I stated.

"Do you think it is possible?" she asked me hopefully.

"Yes. I have every confidence in my abilities," I said, not at all sure, in actuality.

She seemed excited by what I had said, and started asking me a lot of questions about the spell. I answered as best I could, then told her I had to get busy if we were going to be ready for this evening.

Two hours later, I was done. I had two pieces of jewelry spelled and powered with runes. The first was a necklace of platinum, which was engraved and powered by runes of non-transformation.

The second was a gold ring. I had carefully engraved it, to protect her from the moon's power. If I had done it correctly, she would not feel the need to transform at all, this evening. If I had done it wrongly... well, I might have to kill her after all, and that would be a shame. I had grown to like this girl.

I presented her with the two spelled items, and she put them on eagerly.

"Are you sure these will do as you say?" she asked again for what seemed the twentieth time.

While I was not one hundred percent sure, all my spells had so far worked as I had wished them to. So I projected confidence I was not really feeling.

"These will protect you from your curse, and there will be no transformations this evening," I replied in a smug tone of voice.

"A bit full of yourself, aren't you?" She asked, with a twinkle in her eye.

"Just the voice of experience," I stated.

She had a playful tone of voice, and kept teasing me. However, I heard and felt the undercurrent of fear in her voice, too. While I was almost sure the spells would work, it was the first time I had ever worked such spells. Sometimes you needed to fine tune these things.

As evening approached, I started getting a bit nervous. I kept my sword handy, and did a few protection spells, just in case. Amanda wanted to go out somewhere, just in case, but I was putting on a false front, trying to reassure her.

Finally, it was getting dark. Moonrise would occur a little after nine. As the time of the moon's rise approached, Amanda was getting more and more nervous. I was a little nervous myself, but kept a stoic expression.

Finally, I moved across the room, but she didn't notice. I made sure I had my pistol handy, as well as my sword. If she started changing, I would have no choice but to kill her. She went to the window and stared out at the night while I gave myself room to react, if I had to.

The spells worked! She was not changing at all! She was being bathed in the fullness of the moon's light, and she stayed human.

"I can feel it, but it's like an itch that is muffled. The moon is so beautiful," Amanda said, with a catch in her voice.

I sighed with relief that she was stable, and was not changing into a werewolf.

I let her watch out of the window for sometime. I saw again the beauty of the moon, as seen through the eyes of one who had long been denied this sight in human form. For the past two years the moon had represented a huge dread for her.

Finally she turned from the window and back to me.

"You have done something for me no one has been able to do to date. Now I want to make love by the moon's light," she said, and started removing her clothes.

Our love making was a wonderfully joyous occasion. I did not mind doing this for her, whatsoever.

When we were done, it was two hours later. The moon's rise had been in effect for over two hours, and she was still as human as I was.

But then... I was part Fae, come to think of it.