Keith Gouveia - Animal Behavior and Other Tales of Lycanthropy: A Chilling Collection of Werewolf Horror

Also by Keith Gouveia

The Eternal Battle

Dream Demon

Killing Faith

The Evil Men Do

Children of the Dragon

The Goblin Princess

Devils Playground (with A.P. Fuchs)

On Hells Wings (with A.P. Fuchs)

Bits of the Dead (editor)

Death Puppet: Revolt of the Dead

Animal Behavior and Other Tales of Lycanthropy

Behind the Stained Glass

The Black Cat and the Ghoul (with Edgar Allan Poe)

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Coscom Entertainment

winnipeg

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons living or dead or suffering from lycanthropy is purely coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-926712-42-0

Animal Behavior and other Tales of Lycanthropy is Copyright 2010 by Keith Gouveia. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce in whole or in part in any form or medium.

Lady of the Forest originally published in Carnival of Wicked Writers Raw Meat anthology 2007 and reprinted in WolfSinger Publications Wolf Songs anthology 2008.

Published by Coscom Entertainment

www.coscomentertainment.com

Text set in Garamond

eBook Edition

Cover Art by C.J. Hutchinson and Jesus Morales/Dark Riddle

Introduction

Like the vampire, werewolvesor any sort of animal-shape shifterhave had a long standing in our history. Tales of lycanthropes have been documented from as early as the 18th century and can be found in all cultures across the globe. Some even consider vampires and werewolves the same.

Its no secret to those who know me that the werewolf is my favorite beasty. As a kid, nothing frightened me more than the half-man-half-wolf. The combined efforts of An American Werewolf in London and The Howling forever sealed the deal and forever changed my mind on the monster. Compared to other genre tropes, the werewolf is far more interesting and menacing.

Traditionally, zombies could be handled on a one-on-one basis with their slow motor skills and dim-witted mindsets. Even for the fast-moving zombies found in the Dawn of the Dead remake and in Brian Keenes The Rising series, any bludgeoning weapon will get the job done. Nothing about the walking dead ever scared me. Same could be said for vampires. They were far too romantic to be truly terrifying especially considering their numerous weaknesses, their ego being the greatest. But when faced against the ferociousness of a werewolf, one-on-one, you will surely lose to its killer instinct and those deadly teeth. Whether cursed or chosen, the werewolf is a monster capable of unimaginable brutality.

Over the years Ive learned all I could about the myths and legends. Read numerous books, saw every film, and watched them slowly fade out of popularity, but my love and my fear never died. Though werewolves have remained a staple in the horror genre, there have been less leading roles for them.

With the werewolfs popularity on the rise again, A.P. Fuchs approached me on whether or not I had enough material to fill a collection of werewolf stories. Both of us were surprised by the answer. At that time I had one story complete: Lady of the Forest, and one I was currently writing, War Dog. I questioned if it was possible to put together such a collection without rehashing too many ideas or plots and Mr. Fuchss response was quite simple: Thats the challenge.

My first novel, The Eternal Battle , though flawed, has a unique spin on the werewolf genre and I was more than a little concerned on whether I could pull off such a feat again. I completed War Dog and the muse slapped me in the back of the head with inspiration for another tale, The Beast of Garden Row. When that one was completed, I was blown away and before I could relish the fact that I had just written, in my opinion, my greatest short story, two more ideas popped in my head and I immediately went to work. This book is my answer to that challenge and whether I succeeded or not is up to you, the reader. I have taken some of the lesser known myths and made them my own, even created a few myself; The Guardianfor instance. I hope inside these pages youll find my passion for these creatures and that some of it will rub off on you.

With Universal Studios release of The Wolfman , Lorne Dixons Snarl, also published by Coscom Entertainment, two upcoming anthologies from Library of the Living Dead, W.D. Gaglianis Nick Lupo series ( Wolfs Trap and Wolfs Gambit ) published by Leisure and a few other projects, perhaps lycanthropes will see their resurgence much like the vampire and the zombie.

Its time to rip off your skin and answer the call...

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Moonlight brightens the sky

I stare out into the night

My life has gone awry

Because of one fearful bite

Freewill bends to instinct

It scratches under my skin

Its too much, I cant think

Who will forgive me for this sin

Bones crack, lengthen and twist

Flesh reforms with a bestial cry

This is not a curse, but a gift

Tonight someone will surely die

The Beast of Garden Row

Father Malloy stared into the wild eyes of a once loving husband and father and called upon the strength of the Archangel Michael. O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father.

The man laughed as his wife and daughter wept.

The priest continued his sworn duties and recited the vade retro satana. Let the Holy Cross be my light. Let not the snake lead me. Step back, Satan. Never tempt me with vain things. What you offer is evil

The man smiled, looking as though he was enjoying the exorcism.

Impossible... his teeth... its unnatural, Father Malloy thought . No... He is with me. I must be strong. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit I cast you out. Devil be gone! With the flick of his fingers, Holy Water splashed the mans face.

The smile faded, but the man did not flinch. Father Malloy expected the water to burn his sinful flesh. He threw more.

Why are you men of the cloth so eager to blame the devil? Why cant you accept the evil that resides in all our hearts? Spittle flew from the blasphemous mans lips while strands of saliva dangled from the corners of his mouth.

Your thoughts are clouded. You are being manipulated.

You are wrong, priest. Just as you are wrong in thinking you can save them, but for your efforts, I shall reward you.

The sound of fabric ripping echoed in the log cabin. The man dropped to all fours. Looking at his wife and daughter he said, You better start running.

Go! Father Malloy said as the mans left leg snapped and twisted around at the knee.

Mother and daughter bolted out of the log cabin and Father Malloy was alone to face the beast. He performed the sign of the cross in front of his chest and spoke over the sound of cracking bones. Even though I walk through...

The right leg snapped and twisted.

... the valley of the shadow of death...

Skin stretched and tore as the mans nose and mouth elongated.

... I shall fear no evil...

Ribs cracked and expanded as his chest cavity increased in size and his shoulder blades lengthened.

... for Thou art with me...

A low guttural growl emanated from within the man as hair sprouted from every pore.