Before the Last Petal Falls
"Levi, what are you going to do with yourself? You're twenty-one years old. I won't be here forever, I expect you-"
"Yea, Yea, I know, Father. Take over the family business, become the Dean of Harvard. I don't want that. Why would I? Because I'd love to be the head jackass of this condescending fuck house." Levi dropped his eyes, feeling his Father's cold gaze upon him. This wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation, and it wouldn't be the last. He hadn't decided what he wanted. Why should he have to? Once the Dean was dead Levi's trust funds alone would take him through retirement and being his parents only child meant that their entire legacy was left to Levi. He had nothing to worry about. Heck, he often thought to himself that he should stage a murder for his parents. They were well enough known that they could be murdered, people did envy the Dean.
The Dean and his perfect little family, hah.
"Well, you need to figure it out. You can't spend your life street racing." Levi's eye grew wide and he tried to tie down his emotions and bring back his carefully composed mask. "Yes, I know about the 'Captain,' you've done a very good job on the streets. I'm impressed, too bad you can't make something of yourself with that. With luck, you'll kill yourself and I can get an heir who will actually make me proud."
XXX
Red anger and a sheathing rage were all Levi could think, feel, or see. Anger at his father, rage for all of the misunderstandings, anger for the fact that the one thing Levi actually liked to do only 'impressed' his father, rage that made him want to kill himself just so his father would know that that 'Proud Son' he wanted did not exist because his father's expectations could never be met.
"Levi?" He glanced at the auburn haired girl besides him, and wondered when she got there. "Did you bring me my rose?"
He sneered. "A rose. Why would you want something as cheap and un-incredible as a rose? I mean, you have me don't you? Flowers are so superficial; I can get you better things than that."
"I don't want anything better, I want a rose. You promised me one." She pouted.
"Oh, please, Petra. You're dating me for Christ's sake. If I say it's not worth it then it isn't worth it. Forget about the rose." He walked away from the wall he had been leaning against and headed towards his car, he had bet a lot of money on tonight's race and even a mad Petra was a lucky one. She would ride with him; that was the deal. He dated her; she rode with him for good luck. Getting her in the car the first time had been a chore, she made him promises to get her anything she wanted, and she asked for a rose. A stupid, stinkin' rose. He had rolled his eyes at her and told her to choose something better so she wouldn't regret it. Who would want just a rose? He could get her anything, and she asks for the easiest thing possible. She knew he liked challenges. He liked proving that the impossible was only possible for him; that he was better than everyone else.
He heard the 'click-clack' of Petra's heels behind him, getting in the car, he waited for her to securely shut her door before letting the engine roar to life. Speeding down the back roads to Pier Eighteen. Pier Eighteen was a half circle that went from pier eighteen to pier twenty-three, and each dock was a mile apart. Five miles, three minutes, two cars, one winner.
Even in this century, a millennia after the twenty-first century, nothing much had changed. Humanity got the things it needed and felt it didn't need to advance more. The weapons however, continued to advance and no wars had taken place for seven centuries. This meant that people had nothing better to do than the extremely stupid, hence Levi's participation in street racing.
Tonight, the race was against Commander, and Levi mentally checked himself. The Commander was the only person who was better than him, in more ways than one too. He is the humblest racer ever known; all of his winnings go to charities and hospitals. He has his own money, of course, or else he would've been a wash out LONG ago. Levi hated him. Just because he could.
The crowd had already gathered at Pier Eighteen, waiting for the long overdue race between the best there was this side of New Trost. Pulling his car up to the line, he left it running. Walking around the car to the passenger side to lean against the hood, the Commander wasn't here yet. He stared up at the waning sunlight.
It had been long enough to have Levi pissed off at the fact that this stupid softy left him waiting so long.
I will run this bastard off the fucking dock.
The Commander stepped out of his car, and his Luck sat on the window seal so the bottom half of her was still in the car.
"Hey, Captain! Ready to get your ass kicked?"
"You mean, 'Ready to kiss your ass, sir!'" He pitched his voice higher to obnoxiously mimic the preposterously bubbly brunette.
Her glare was instantaneous, "Gotten laid lately, Levi? Or are they still running from your Oxy-Clean collection?"
Levi sneered at her, but other than that, ignored the harsh insult. There is nothing wrong with my Oxy-Clean.
"Good evening, Captain." Azura blue eyes met torrent grey.
Levi nodded his head, "Commander."
The Commander extended to Levi, "Let's a have a good, clean race."
"Sure." Levi slapped his hand, moving swiftly back into the driver's seat of his car.
He looked to Petra, "Ready, Doll Face?"
The blonde sneered at Levi. "Fuck you."
"Oh, you know I love it when you're feisty." Levi smirked, seeing the blush creep up Petra's cheeks. He leaned over and pecked the smaller woman on the cheek. "Bring me good luck," and he winked, sending almost visible steam out of Petra's ears.
"Driver's, ARE YOU READY!?"
The thunderous roar of monstrous machines filled the air, cascading over the exuberant crowd like a storm.
A white cloth was raised, Levi's breath catches in his throat, this is what he lived for. The anticipation, the thrill of wanting to win, and the energy pulsing through him, coaxing the shiver of the engine.
He didn't even comprehend that the flag had been dropped, his body simply reacted, throwing the car into gear and gunning down the plankway. Pier eighteen wasn't hard to race but you could only make passes when you came to another pier. When you did, it widened just enough for a swift pass, or a swift death.
In years past, it always seems to be in these passing areas that people die. They get too excited about making the pass that their calmer, more experienced, racers cut them off; sealing them to death. The only way out of it is to brake, and no racer ever does that.
The cars were jogging across the plank ways, the decking boards pulled your car in different directions. Levi stopped worrying about the Commander riding his ass, and worried about adjusting himself to the tug and jerk of the dock, and because of this distraction the Commander easily passed Levi at the first of five passing zones.
Levi gritted his teeth. The Commander was an experienced driver. Levi wasn't quite used to it, when he went up against other racers, he knew he would win, but it's different with the Commander. Levi didn't know if he would win.
The raven's hands gripped the steering wheel with a brutal force, increasing his speed, he rode the Commander's ass, not letting him get a lead on Levi. If Levi passed him too early, the Commander would just do the same thing. Levi didn't like pointless wars. He would have to pass the Commander at the last possible second.
He rode steadily behind the commander, faking like he was going to pass, trying to get a feel for the Commander;'s moves. Trying to make it easier for Levi to be prepared to beat him in the last passing zone.
About a quarter-mile from the last passing zone, Levi started putting the petal to the metal. Swerving back and forth, trying to throw off the Commander and give himself better chances of fooling him to get past.
He felt Petra clutch his arm, "Levi! LEVI! Stop, don't do it, please! Just lose the race! You won't get past him!"
Levi spared the briefest glance to see her, her face was white and tears welled in her eyes. The Desperation was clear in her eyes.
He brushed Petra's hand off, "That's where you're wrong."
They enter the fifth and final passing zone. Levi punched the car up another gear and rocketed passed the Commander. Not looking back, simply gunning down the dock to the finish line.
Levi felt the thrust of the Commander's car into his rear end, and again. The last time the Commander hit the back corner of his car, Levi lost control, the car spinning out, spinning off the dock and into the depths of water below them.
A black haze surrounded Levi. No sight or sound came from anywhere. He could feel a liquid rising around him, dragging at his limbs. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Before him was a gruesome sight. Petra's head lay at in odd angle and blood gushed from her shoulder. The passenger side of the car was submerging in the water first, rushing in and cover Petra. Levi started to panick, pulling at Petra's seatbelt that was jammed under the seat, out of reach.
"Petra, Petra! Wake up! Wake up! Please! Say something to me!" Levi tugged at the seat belt again. He threw his hands up in frustration, clawing at his hair. When he remembered the knife beneath his seat. Frantically reaching for it, he drew out the blade, sawing at petra's seat belt with a desperate force. His head throbbed and he felt blood running into his left eye, he dashed it away, cutting through the last of Petra's restriction.
He hefted the small women in his arms and scrambled backwards, the water raising to the middle console in the car. Levi wrestled his driver's side door open and pulled himself out, reaching back to heave Petra up to him. Her weight threw Levi off-balance, tipping them backwards into the freezing water. Scrambling, he dragged at the water around him, breaching the service. His eye's searched desperating for Petra and when he found her, he threw her onto his shoulder and paddled to stay afloat. Levi's strength was waning quickly and he found his eyes drifted shut. He hurt so much, the cold numbed him to the bone, death seems merciful at this point. He was unable to fight anymore, and he fell into blackness.
A warm glow engulfed Levi, and he felt Petra's weight lift from his shoulders. He struggled to open his eyes; when he did. Petra burst into a ball of dazzling light, and where Petra had been, a beautiful women floated above him. Her eye's glowed a violent fuchsia, taking over the whole socket, like a beacon you can't escape. The women's hair swirled around her in great waves of golden locks, cascading around her and her white gown. The woman was dressed incredibly plain, but it was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.
"Dearest Levi, is this how you wanted your life to end? I gave you warning through Petra to not win the race. You saw the desperation in her, and in your cruelty and greed and pride you brushed her aside, and even if you tried to save her; your heart is too black." Levi felt an enormous anger at this woman rise up in him, taking all his senses, this women was the reason he lost.
"Although, because you tried to save her, I will ask if you want your punishment or not. Take the punishment you deserve for your greed and pride, or you can die here; choose wisely, for death is not a joyous as it seems."
"Do your worst, Hag." He croaked, his voice wheezing from his tired body.
"Levi Harvard, you will become as dark a beast as you are in your heart, and will stay in this form for twenty-five years. If you can learn to love another, and earn their love in return by the spring-equinox of your thirty-sixth year, the spell will be broken. If not, you will die. You will die in a beastly form which you will grow to hate, you will forget the look of your human face and forget the unknown need you have for human contact. You will die as a beast, a way befitting only the likes of you."
A light surrounded Levi, flowing from his eyes, his fingers and every other bodily extremity. It felt as if he was being torn apart. Claws pushed out of his nails and his bones bent and moved, changing from human to beast. Hair burst forth from every pore, black and coarse. The most excruciating part was when he felt his chin and nose strain away from his face, extending into a long muzzle. His teeth grew into long fangs, piercing his lips, as they grew into a weapon.
When his transformation was over the only recognizable thing left was his eyes.
The enchantress was gone, and the crowd from the race was steadily running down the dock, the Commander at the head of the pack. Levi felt terror take over his body and he ran, loping away as any animal would; on all fours, letting instinct guide him.
XXX
He ran for days, speeding away as fast as he could, never stopping; even when the nights came and went and his hunger gnawed at his insides. Only when he found himself in some distant forest did he stop. Levi laid down underneath an old large tree, and finally, he slept.
XXX
Levi had been wondering for 3 days. He wasn't completely stupid though, he traveled east, back to New Trost. He would take over one of his father's many mansions and make it look like it was haunted and ransacked, and... then what? Levi shook his head, he didn't know what to do. He had to fall in love, he scoffed, love. Love was for the weak and the desperate, for those who needed others to have a fulfilling life. Levi didn't need anyone, he could take care of himself and he wasn't some helpless, sniveling child.
At least, that's what he told himself.
XXX
Traveling by night and back roads, Levi made it back to New Trost, and then to a mansion he father had bought in his youth. It was of victorian style and actually looked quite decrepit. He might not have to ransack the place. Less work for me, he thought. He wandered through his new home. He thought he was coping with his curse rather well, at least he wasn't in hysterics, so that was a plus. Levi wondered if it was possible to break this curse, he deemed it highly unlikely and settled down in what was most likely the master bedroom. He stared out the window, focusing past his reflection and contemplated the fact that he would live the rest of his life as a beast.
XXX
Season after season past and the Beast never moved from his post, staring out at the city lights in the horizon. One spring, he finally noticed the beautiful roses that grew a crossed the balcony railing outside his window. The roses had climbed 3 stories and wrapped and curled through the railing, blooming great, luscious red roses. Astonished by the sight, he stood and crossed to the window, opening windows that he never had before; he breathed in the fresh, crisp air, relishing in it. He drew closer to the edge, almost afraid to disturb the gentle creatures blooming before him. He touched one velvet petal with a clawed finger tip, and felt remorse tickle over him. The tears sprung from his eyes and he knew that while he may never find love, he regretted the choice he made that fateful day. He cannot take it back now. He know this, he must live with the consequences and find a way to live as a beast, a way to cope with this new form and reality. Carefully, he plucked the rose from the vine and held it to his muzzle nose. This rose was perfect, he could see now why Petra was so persistent that he get her one. This memory gave him a small insight, there were changes to be made.
XXX
Over the next few months, the Beast made silent trips into New Trost, stealing T.V.'s, computers, cameras and other electronics. He created for himself the best protection he could, a bad reputation; with the new technology he collected, he could easily keep in touch with the outside world while staying entirely unseen; to the people of New Trost he became "The Beast of Harvard Mansion," much to his delight. The Dean did his best to dissolve the rumors but he was finding himself short on funds to bribe the journalists with, as soon as the Beast had had a chance he started to siphon his father's bank accounts, he already took all the money from his saving accounts and trust funds; in a manor of weeks the Dean would be bone dry.
When all was said and done, the Beast was one of the richest people in New Trost.
Once he had taken all the money he could, the Beast shut himself into his manor, to live the rest of eternity in as much luxury he hoped he deserved.
March 23, 3035
8 Y.A.T. (Years After Transformation)