From the moment Blythe walked into the courtroom, Joe felt the beast surge within him. Under his shirt, he felt his chest hair grow. His fingernails started to jut out. But he took a deep breath and held his alternate form at bay.
He and Blythe had met before. Joe positioned himself outside the door and grabbed the counselor’s arm as he walked out into the hallway.
Hewett and Becker drew their weapons instantly. Joe released his grip.
“Joseph!” Blythe said. “So lovely to see you again.”
“We have unfinished business.”
“Do we?” Blythe asked. “My, my. You never learned your lesson, did you?”
Blythe patted his hand against Joe’s cheek. “So much sorrow written all over your face. Such a pathetic inability to let trivial matters go. How dreadfully unkind time has been to you.”
“I will end you,” Joe said. “The biggest mistake you ever made was not killing me.”
“You know that’s not my way, Joseph,” Blythe said. “If I kill my underlings, how will they ever learn?”
A brief staredown.
“How’s that son of yours?” Blythe asked. “Goodness, he must be a strapping young man now.”
A guttural growl poured out of Joe’s mouth. Growls followed from Hewett and Becker.
Blythe released Joe’s throat. His agents holstered their weapons.
“To be continued I suspect,” Blythe said as he and his men left the building.
Joe breathed heavily in order to bring himself under control.
Out came Gunther. “Can you believe this horse shit? Help me unchain these assholes, will ya’? I think I’m gonna be sick.”
Bookshelf Battle 
Just started reading the last couple bits–pretty interesting. When I have time I’ll refer back to read the whole thing.
Thanks Jim. Appreciate it. Work in progress. Criticism good or bad and especially bad so I can improve appreciated.
No direct line edits but … when exactly did he grab his throat and why did they have to stop talking. you need to fill in a little.
I’ve debated about Joe for awhile. His main purpose is to explain to the good guys who Blythe is. It was either that or have Blythe pull a Bond villain routine and explain his fiendish plan and then Slade escapes an easily escaped situation.
I had him grab him because there just seemed like there needed to be some action. Earlier I had him brush his cheek but that seemed a little well…gay.
I was hoping readers would assume they stopped rather than reveal themselves right there in front of everyone but maybe I need more explanation
[…] Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 […]
Reblogged this on Bookshelf Battle and commented:
This scene needs a lot of work.
At the time, I wasn’t exactly sure what Joe’s relationship to Blythe was, I just knew I wanted Joe to serve as the character who gets info of what zombies vampires and werewolves are to Slade and Co. (although as it turns out later, Miles takes that role on).
I’m thinking maybe Joe has known of Blythe’s invasion plans for years, having worked for him only to grow a conscience, and well, he has reason to hate Blythe as we’ll see soon.