Hey everyone! Sorry this is such a late update... stupid school... at least swim season ended so now I've more time...
And just a quick note so no one gets confused: the first part of this chapter takes place right after chapter four. So why this is chp 6 rather than chp 5? I've NO idea, so just bear with me.
And a HUGE THANK YOU to all my faithful reviewers! You've NO IDEA how much it means that you're all supporting this fic – THANK YOU! (gives cyber-hug to each and every reviewer) :D
Chapter Six
The full moon shined brightly as a black blur tore through the woods of China, barely visible under the long shadows. It was breathing heavily and limped slightly, but still traveled incredibly fast nevertheless.
Kendrick winced as the bone of his front right leg cracked once again as he leapt over a fallen log and landed painfully on that limb. He mentally cursed that brown-haired boy for breaking the leg. Even with his incredible healing abilities it'd take a least a week before the bone was completely healed.
As he ran, the bone throbbing agonizingly beneath him, he wondered who really was responsible for all his soreness. Chase for getting himself involved in the first place, that brown-haired boy for beating him up, or himself for freaking out so much about that simple dagger. He hadn't EVER been this wounded before. Even that one time when he had to fight the giant grizzly bear that was attacking him during a full moon about a century ago.
That stupid dagger had better be worth all his pain.
Kendrick felt the sun's rays before he saw them. He looked up into the night sky and realized that the moon had faded during his journey back home, and dawn was now breaking.
He slowed his run down to a light canter and felt his bones extending as the sun's rays washed down upon his back. His snout slowly compressed into a normal human face and his front legs slowly morphed back into arms. The black fur that covered him slowly disappeared and his spine straightened until he was standing upright.
He had transformed back into a human.
He sighed loudly. Pity his right arm was still broken though.
Kendrick started to walk again as the forest came alive with the sounds of morning. Birds began to chirp their beautiful songs as a cool and gentle wind blew against his face, ruffling his jet-black hair behind him. The stray leaves on the ground crunched quietly beneath his feet and he trained his forest-green eyes forward so that he was looking straight ahead.
He had never liked walking while looking at the ground. It made him feel as though he was insecure. He much rather preferred to look the world right in the face.
After a couple minutes, his cabin slowly materialized before him and he smiled. Home at last. Funny how much he missed it after only being gone for about maybe six or seven hours.
He gently pushed the front door open and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He walked straight over to the medical cabinet and pulled open a drawer. Inside were some bandages and ointment he'd stolen about… how long had it been? He tried to remember but couldn't. It was too long ago.
He stopped trying and focused on squeezing just the right amount of the ointment into his hands. He then proceeded to rub it where his skin was swelling from the broken bone. Afterwards, he wrapped the bandages around and secured the bone in place so it would heal properly.
He checked his skull to see if it had cracked, but all he saw was a bump. Good, he thought. At least it hadn't cracked. That would have been a problem. So besides a bunch of bruises from all the punches and a bump on his head, he wasn't faring all that bad. It was just that broken bone that had him frustrated. He shouldn't have allowed that to happen.
His thoughts went back to the silver dagger. Where was it again? Oh yes. Chase had it. Kendrick growled slightly. "Chase never told him where he lived…" he mused to himself.
"That is no problem, seeing that I am right behind you."
Kendrick never allowed himself to be surprised, however this time he couldn't help but yelp in shock as the cold voice broke through the silence of his cabin.
He whirled around to see Chase Young leaning casually against the doorframe, a smirk on his face.
Kendrick felt his blood start to boil. Who did this man think he was? Sneaking around and surprising people like that? Kendrick snarled at his visitor. "Ever heard of knocking?"
"The door was open, so I invited myself in."
Kendrick's temper flared. "Just who do you think you are, walking around like you owned the world?"
Chase laughed. "I don't right now, but I WILL."
"Shut up," Kendrick snarled back. "You are so lucky I need the silver dagger."
Chase's grin widened. "Oh? Why's that?"
"Because if you didn't I gladly would have torn you to pieces by now," Kendrick glared back.
Chase only smiled. "I'd love to see you try."
Kendrick scowled, "Just because I'm a no longer a wolf doesn't mean I'm no longer dangerous."
"I think I've already learned a long while ago that looks can be deceiving."
Kendrick felt his anger rise. "You are just too arrogant and self-confident for your own good."
Chase snorted. "Ha, like you're any better."
Kendrick felt his calmness teeter dangerously at the edge, but he restrained from doing what his brain was imagining – which was tearing that egoistic idiot's face apart.
"Where's the Silver Dagger? I completed my job, so hand it over," Kendrick said through clenched teeth instead, changing the subject.
Chase reached behind him and revealed the silver dagger, balancing it gently by the hilt on his finger. He smirked. "How do I trust you?"
Kendrick gaped at him. "You're telling me you actually need proof?"
Chase shrugged nonchalantly. "Yes," he answered innocently.
"Well, would do you want me to do?" Kendrick demanded. "How the heck am I supposed to prove I did my job? That's impossible, unless you wait 'til the next full moo-" Kendrick's eyes widened at the realization. "Oh no," he snarled. "I am NOT waiting a month for you to give me that damn dagger. I did NOT agree to that!"
Chase was obviously enjoying this. "I never said in the agreement I'd give you the dagger right after you completed the job. I just said I'd give it to you."
Kendrick couldn't believe what he was hearing. That idiot was toying with his words so that it'd work against him! He couldn't help himself. He wanted to kill that man.
Which would explain why he suddenly leapt forward with incredible quickness and slammed his fist forward at Chase's face.
He never was good at patience.
Chase didn't see it coming and dodged too late. The fist missed its target but still managed to graze his cheekbone. His smile disappeared and was replaced with annoyance. Maybe just an inkling of anger, but it was mostly annoyance.
He didn't have time for this at all.
Kendrick lashed out again with his fist but this time Chase caught it and twisted his arm back so that the socket slowly started ripping.
Kendrick replied by smashing his right foot into Chase's head, causing him to let go and stumble back unsteadily.
Chase shook his head until the wooziness disappeared. He stared coldly at the werewolf before him. Kendrick did the same.
After a moment of silence Chase suddenly tossed the dagger at Kendrick in disgust. "I don't have time for this," he muttered as he started walking towards the door.
Kendrick caught the dagger gracefully at the hilt and glared, "I wasn't finished."
"Well I am," Chase retorted back. "I knew you did your job the whole time I was here."
Kendrick opened his mouth angrily but Chase cut him off. "Just tell me who you bit."
"The brown-haired one."
Chase stopped for a moment. Kendrick waited.
"That is fine." Then he was gone.
Kendrick remained where he was, letting his anger dissipate until he could breathe normally again. After a minute, he finally walked over to his cabinets and placed the silver dagger gently inside.
Chase irritated him so much. At least now he was out of his life for good. Now Kendrick could finally get back to his normal life.
Ha, what a laugh! He wished.
I woke up with a start, my eyes snapping open. I was sweating yet shivering at the same time, my body warm but the inside numb with cold. What was wrong with me? What had happened? Did I have a dream? I couldn't remember anything prior to waking up.
I gazed about me, my breaths short and rapid. Why was it so hot and stuffy in my room? I ran a hand through my black hair, my green eyes wide with fear. The air was so musty, so old, so… suffocating… were the walls getting closer or was it just me?
I had to get out of the house. I had to get into the open before I went crazy. I rushed outside, breathing heavily.
Outside in the woods everything was quiet. The moon shined brightly down upon me and a gentle breeze was blowing. The air was fresh and clean, and an owl hoot reverberated around the forest.
My breaths started getting more normal. I was already feeling much better out in the wild. Free and able to go wherever I wanted.
I began to jog, not even noticing at first. Before I knew it, I had broken into a run. Soon, I was sprinting through the forest, so incredibly fast, so… inhumanly fast…
I finally slowed down when the woods ended and opened into a plain. Before me an ocean of grass swayed in the calming wind, so tranquil and beautiful under the sparkling stars.
Only a lone hill stood out in the midst of the lowlands. Unconsciously I walked towards it, slowly making out a cherry tree at the top of the hill.
Then I saw her.
She was sitting with her back against the tree, her long, lustrous black hair cascading luminously down her back. I couldn't see her face; her back was towards me, but I could still see her creamy white complexion, so beautiful and just like ivory.
"K-Karina?" I stuttered.
The girl turned her head, and I stared into Karina's beautiful blue eyes.
She started towards me, walking forward until we only stood five feet apart.
"Karina…" I whispered. "1500 years ago… I didn't mean it…"
Her face remained blank. I pleaded with her, but she wouldn't say a word.
"Please…"
She only turned around to walk away.
I felt so hurt, so hopeless, so dejected that she wasn't going to give me another chance. I felt tears slowly welling up in my eyes as her figure grew smaller and smaller.
The moon's rays shined down on me intensely and I realized it was a full moon.
NO! My mind shrieked. Not again! I dropped onto fours and felt my face transform into a snout. Black fur began to grow all over me and my animal instincts took shape.
But before I could even blink the earth had opened up under me. My screams were lost in the chasm as I fell through the abyss. Everywhere I looked it was black. I couldn't even tell up from down or right from left. I was suffocating, falling into nothing, the air leaving my lungs as I tumbled on.
Only one word kept repeating itself in my mind as I fell: the curse would be the end of me…
Kendrick leapt out of bed, his breathing heavy and his eyes wide with fright. For a while he kept still, his ragged breathing the only sound about him.
Clam down, boy, relax… he told himself, struggling to control his shivering. Only a dream… only a dream…
Kendrick snorted. Some pleasant dream he had. It was more like a nightmare. He waited a couple minutes but he just couldn't relax. He slipped out of bed and into the kitchen, grabbing some water and pouring it eagerly over his head.
The water was cool and refreshing. Kendrick smiled. It had helped greatly.
He walked towards the door and slipped quietly outside. The moon was still shining brightly overhead; Kendrick guessed it was about two in the morning. The moon was almost full, just waning the slightest since it was full yesterday night.
He shuddered slightly as he recounted the dream. When was the last time he even had a dream? He couldn't remember; if he had one it definitely wasn't in the last five centuries…
So why tonight?
Kendrick muttered to himself angrily. So much for going back to his normal life.
One thought kept bugging him though. Why were all his memories replaying themselves in his head now? He had buried them deep in his mind and resolved never to unleash them again. And they had been dormant for more than a millennium now… so why… tonight?
With a start he suddenly remembered the girl that had been present at his mission. The girl with the same lustrous black hair as Karina. The girl with sapphire blue eyes and ivory skin, even the same blood…
Why was she so similar to Karina?
Kendrick growled silently. Perhaps it was her fault that he was going crazy. She was the one who had brought back horrible memories of his past and dreaded mistakes since she looked so much like Karina.
Kendrick paused for a second. Now that he was thinking about it, why DID he consent to that stupid agreement he made with that goddess nearly 1500 years ago?
Because of his stupidity, blindness, naivety that nothing bad could happen, even though the goddess had clearly said curse… A freaking curse that would follow him 'til his death…
Kendrick gasped. The phrase that had been repeating itself as the dream ended: the curse would be the end of me…
Then again, the silver dagger was probably the REAL reason he was in this mess. If it had never been revealed, he wouldn't have made an agreement with Chase, wouldn't have seen that girl Kimiko, and wouldn't be in this state.
Kendrick rubbed his temples. He had a splitting headache and his head was going to explode. He was so confused…
After more than a thousand years of peace, the memories just HAD to unearth themselves… and what a better time than now? He thought sarcastically.
But… why?
Why now, why him, why-
Stop thinking! He commanded himself.
He looked up in tot the night and sighed. It was late and he was going to be so out of it tomorrow if he didn't get some sleep soon.
Tomorrow… he decided. He'll figure it out tomorrow…
But that one phrase kept haunting his mind as he struggled to fall asleep.
The curse would be the end of him…
Author's Note:
Ack, not a very good chapter... oh well. I wrote this up and then decided I didn't like it so then I rewrote it. Then I realized that the plot I had mapped out sucked and wasn't realistic at all so I had to change that and as a result, this chapter, too...
But I fixed the plot so that it's better, and hence, writing chapters should be easier now. If only school would lighten up... (growls)
Anyways, nothing on the monks in this chp (hope you don't/didn't mind...). I just decided to give Kendrick a chp to himself. And I hope you got the message in the chp: basically, Kimiko's awakened memories in Kendrick he had long buried since she looks so much like Karina. And so now he's reminiscing about his past, his choices, and what will happen to him, etc.
Hope that was clear, cuz if it's not... then (gulp) that's bad on my part...
Anywho, hope you enjoyed this chp! R&R please!
xxFireWarriorxx
