The Waverley Werewolves www.waverleywerewolves.co.uk The Waverley Werewolves Chapter 4

"We have seen the Edinburgh bikers", Matthew told the others as they gathered in the Reception area.   "Well, we met Gary. The others will be along later", said John. "Gary asked us if we were investigating the local werewolves." "The only werewolves in this place are on our bedrom wall", said Paul. "I'll never get to sleep tonight." "All of the floorboards creak as well as the doors", said Michael. When Miss Smith turned up, she held her umbrella in the air and said, "If you get lost, just look for Mary Poppins." With that, she led them out to the front of the hotel, where they met Mr Price, their tour guide.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Poppins13.jpg Mary Poppins

"Good evening children", he said "Good evening children", he said. "Tonight we are going to explore the dark and dangerous underbelly of this capital city. I do hope that you are not afraid of the dark and the mysterious things that emerge once you turn out your bedroom lights. I am here to guide and protect you tonight, but make sure when you get back to your hotel that you lock your bedroom doors. Follow me if you dare."   For the next two hours they explored the streets of the city. "This is South Bridge", said Mr Price. "There are a number of hidden vaults under the bridge. During the Great Fire of Edinburgh in 1825 many people lost their lives in those vaults. Their ghosts can be seen to this day trying to escape the flames." "Across from here you see the castle. A ghostly piper is seen and heard playing there. It is the ghost of a soldier sent to explore tunnels under the castle. He never returned."

By Rept0n1x - Own work, CC BY-SA 3. 0, https://commons. wikimedia South Bridge

By Kim Traynor - Own work, CC BY-SA 3. 0, https://commons. wikimedia Edinburgh Castle

Before returning to the hotel he led them to the gates of a nearby cemetery.   "There are many famous Edinburgh people buried here", he said, "but the story I want to finish with is one of Edinburgh's darkest." "Two hundred years ago, grave robbers committed their unspeakable crimes in this part of the city. Grave robbing became common as doctors paid for the bodies of the dead." He pointed to a Watch Tower that had been built in the cemetery to make sure that graves were not disturbed. "William Burke and William Hare were two criminals who committed murder and sold the bodies of their victims to Dr Robert Knox. They killed sixteen people. Hare gave evidence to the police and Burke was hung for his crimes. You can see his skeleton in the museum at the Edinburgh Medical School. Thank you all for listening. I hope you sleep well." Rather ominously, as he walked away,  he added, "When you hear the wolves howling, do not venture out into the streets of the city."

By Stephencdickson - Own work, CC BY-SA 4. 0, https://commons Watch Tower

By George Andrew Lutenor; a portrait painter who was also one of the jurors at William Hare's trial (see Burke and Hare murders) - Anon (1829), West Port Murders, or An Authentic Account of the Atrocious Murders Committed by Burke and His Associates, Edinburgh: Thomas Ireland Junior (facing title page), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20540042 William Burke

By George Andrew Lutenor; a portrait painter who was also one of the jurors at Hare's trial (see Burke and Hare murders) - Anon (1829), West Port Murders, or An Authentic Account of the Atrocious Murders Committed by Burke and His Associates, Edinburgh: Thomas Ireland Junior (facing page 272), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20538400 William Hare