Full moon.
Chapter 1.
A great wave of pain ran through my body and, after a moment, subsided leaving a slight ache in muscles. Slowly, I opened my eyes and shivered. My naked body was lying on the cold floor of a cell. I've closed my eyes as the cell door opened with a loud screech.
"Elizabeth… Beth… How are you feeling?" I've heard a worried voice of my cousin.
"What do you think?" my whisper was a reply.
"Come on, I'll help you" I heard his footsteps and a moment later a blanket covered my shivering body. His hands gently lifted me up. I opened my eyes and looked around; the walls of the cell were covered with deep scratches and in some places pieces of rusty-red fur were visible. My eyes met worried gaze of my cousin.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" I whispered, unable to raise my voice any higher.
I stared carelessly at passing people, some of which looked at me with eyes full of fear. Finally, my cousin stoped in front of my rooms and I watched the guards open doors for us. James walked in, put me down on my bed and sat beside me.
"I wish I could take your place" he said, gently stroking my hair.
"It is my curse and you can do nothing about it" I said, turning my face away from him.
"Beth, please…"
"What, James?! What?!" I snapped, turning around to face him. Meeting my desperate eyes, he flinched, and I saw fear on his handsome face.
"I am sorry" I lowered my eyes. "You know that you cannot help me. I am cursed for mistakes of my grandfather."
"Still, there must be a cure…"
"James, I've heard this nonsense too many times to care" I interrupted in a tired voice. "Can you leave, I need to be alone."
He sighed, slowly getting up. As he was about to step through the door, he said without looking at me "You know I will try to help you. I will find the cure, no matter the cost."
For a moment I stared at the closed door, then let myself fall on my back and put arms on my stomach. I laid like that, studying painted angels above me. Their snow-white wings were frozen in flight and their eyes glistened with adoration as they looked at the man, standing in the center, with outstretched arms. I looked in the man's eyes and my lips stretched in an evil, hopeless grin.
"You do not exist, do you?" I asked, tears stung my eyes. "You are nothing but a myth, a beautiful story told to children before bed. If you really are out there, how could you allow a monster like me walk the face of the Earth?"
The painting looked back at me with godly calmness. I sighed and got up. Clutching the blanket around my shoulders, I walked over to one of the windows.
Outside, autumn was in its prime. Trees were dressed in golden and maroon gowns. Bushes of every kind and shape grew along the metal fence. People were hurrying about their business. Children played in their small groups. Three soldiers marched by, with right hands on their swords. Their armor shined as silver met sun's beams. I watched as a serving girl ran up to one of the soldiers, and gave him a warm hug and a tender kiss. A sudden feeling of loneliness struck my heart. I turned away from the window and walked towards the full-length mirror. I looked at myself, wrapped in brown blanket. Lowering my hands, I let it fall to my feet. My slim body was covered in multiple scars. My hair, the color of burned bronze, fell down to the middle of my back in beautiful waves. My smooth face was beautiful, if it wasn't for my eyes – bright yellow, wolf's eyes that knew far more pain and sadness than a girl my age should.
My name is Elizabeth D'Vermont. I am 17 years old and I am a werewolf. I've became one 5 years ago, after my grandfather, whom I looked after, bit me. At that moment I did not know that he was a werewolf, until the full moon came and I had my first transformation. That night I've killed 3 of my servants and 2 guards. Ever since, before the full moon, my father locks me in a cell of his dungeon. There I spent whole day and night, battling with the part of me that is not human. I don't understand why my father would not just kill me and rid his people from dangerous monster, and me from horrible pain. Everyone is scared of me and I know they hate me for those murders I've committed 5 years ago.
The only person that is not afraid of me is my cousin. Ever since he learned what I was, he committed his life to save me. And I know that he will not give up, even if he was dying…
My finger touched a scar on my left shoulder that was still bleeding. I closed my eyes to a stinging pain that followed. Tears went down my cheeks, not from pain, but from desperation and hopelessness that I felt.
"I need to get out of here" I whispered.
Yes! I am going to run. Somewhere far away, where nobody knows who or what I am. I went over to my bed, went down on my knees and got out an old tunic of a peasant. But as I looked at it, lying on my lap, I understood that there was absolutely no way for me to step outside the castle without my father knowing.
My father is the ruler of Araps. He knows about every business that is going on inside these walls. Some even say that the walls have ears and they never miss a thing that was said.
I put the rove on and looked at my reflection in the mirror. Yes, tunic alone was not enough to convince everyone that I was of no noble blood. My eyes caught scissors lying on the table by the bed. Slowly, I took them; cool metal was pleasant to the touch. Then, hesitating only for a second, I brought the scissors to my hair and in one smooth motion my beautiful hair fell on the floor. With a soft thump scissors fell beside them, but I already was kneeling by the fireplace. I rubbed my palms on black charcoal and then brought them up to my face and my hair. After a few minutes playing with coal, I was back to the mirror. I saw a young girl, who's face was smeared with black spots as if she spent weeks cleaning fireplaces. Her short hair was blowzy and dirty. And an old sack replaced her dress.
I smiled in satisfaction – this is perfect! Now I looked like an ordinary servant. Giving myself final approving look, I left the room.