AN: So I got really into the story last night and got most of this out. So early chapter. For this chapter I'm really wanting some feedback. So please review/comment.
AN2: Also graphic violence ahead. Read at your own risk.
Chapter 12:
Primal Dance
The Jensen's were a magical family? How didn't I know? I mean before I got my wand sensing was a lot more difficult. I'd had to mediate to get a good feel of the sounding magic. So it wasn't like I ever had the chance to try and sense the Jensen's but, still, they had been coming over for years and I never knew? The thought sent shivers down my spine.
I nearly froze as an even more horrifying thought occurred to me.
"Aunt Petunia can I see the invitation?" I asked, trying to mask my fear, as we got in the line of cars leading to the front entrance.
"Sure dear, just be careful. We need it to get in." Aunt Petunia said, looking quite nice in her Princess Leia costume. (The 'you're my only hope' one. Pervs.)
With a muttered assurance I took the invitation in hand. Pushing my helmet up, I started reading. "We cordially invite the Drusley family to…" No mention was made of me being invited to the ball.
Bad, very bad.
If the Jenson's were magical, and it seemed like they were, then showing up at their home without an invitation was frowned upon, to say the least. With an invitation I would be a guest, and as such, I would be protected.
Guest Rights, or the Laws of Hospitality, were sacred in the supernatural community. If you were a guest the host would be bound to see to your wellbeing. They would offer you no threat or allow any harm to come to you while you were their guest. The protection this offered was by no means full proof, but they were close.
Perhaps most importantly every supernatural power, from the lowly fairy to the heavyweights like the White Council, abided by them. They were the cornerstone on which all magical cooperation depended.
Defense class spent an entire week going over guest rights. How they were to be used, what you were protected from while under them and what you were required to provide to those who were your guests.
Without a proper invitation it might well be safer for me to try walking home.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Dudley, in his Darth Vader costume, opened my door and offered his hand to help me down. While I was distracted, we had made it to the front of the line and an usher was waiting to take our car.
Once out we made our way up the stairs where Vernon, dressed quit dapperly as Han Solo, greeted Mr. Jenson. Who was doing a disturbingly realistic impersonation of Alucard.
The urge to run screaming was nearly overwhelming.
"Adam, it's good to see you." Vernon said, smiled widely while shaking Mr. Jenson's hand.
"Vernon, Petunia nice costumes." Mr. Jenson said, before turning to Dudley and I. "And who are the two of you supposed to be?"
"I'm Darth Vader." Dudley piped up happily.
When he turned to look at me, I spoke up my voice only shaking slightly. "R-Revan."
Mr. Jenson looked at me seriously for a moment before bowing and saying. "I am honored to have the lady Revan as my guest for the night." He winked at me as he straightened.
With that we were ushered inside.
888
Balls, or any big social gathering really, aren't really my thing. I would much prefer staying home and reading or playing videogames, but if I had to go out a small group of close friends would be my preference. Still I had to admit if I had to a big party in the future I would want the Jensen's to host it. They know how to throw a party.
There was red and white drapery strewn across the walls in tasteful designs, three chandeliers, an actual ballroom, a live band, and a wait staff that seemed to show up just as your drink needed refilling and delicious food. Dear Merlin the food.
I cook a mean meal, and Hogwarts food comes as a close second to my best work, but the chefs that were on fire tonight. I was thoroughly outclassed and I had no problem with it.
"Enjoying the refreshments are we?"
I cracked my eyes open and seeing Joel Jenson, I quickly finished off the mini burger I had been eating.
"Yes." My voice convened just how much I was loving the food.
Joel crack a smile, which looked odd with one of his eyes covered in an eye patch. It did however go well with the rest of his outfit, a green army uniform, combat boots a big hat with a griffin pendant on it and a red scarf. Hello Pip.
"I'll let the cooks know that you're pleased with their work." Joel said.
"Please do." I said as Joel moved to sit by me. We were in a room just off the main ballroom. It was filled with games, video and otherwise, and its own small buffet. I had claimed a spot near the end where the burgers rested.
"Dad wanted me to talk to you." I raised my brow inquiringly. "He said, oh how did he phrase it." He snapped his fingers. "Ah right. He said, 'That no deception was meant, nor is any harm meant by us to you or yours. You are a guest in our home and a friend.'"
I felt my eyebrows climb as he spoke, by the time he was finished they were nearly to my hair line. "Formal." I honestly didn't know how to respond to that.
Joel blushed. "That's how he said I should say it. Dad said politeness in the supernatural world is important."
I nodded. "Life and death." Well if I had any doubts about the Jenson's being more than human they were laid to rest.
Joel's brow furred. "I'm still getting used to it, I mean two years ago I thought this stuff was all make believe and now I'm living it." I felt a pang of sympathy, I feel you dude, I really do.
"Two years ago?" I asked.
He nodded. "We were on vacation in America and we were attacked by these wolves. They would have killed us if it weren't for…" He trailed off, lost in his memories.
"So werewolves?" I asked, carefully prodding him knowing that the experience was likely traumatic. There were multiple types of werewolves but there were only one kind that could change others into werewolves through infection. Tier-Wechslers, ironically they were native to Europe.
Tier-Wechslers were the stereotypical Hollywood werewolf. They had to change shape during the full moon and when they did they lost all control. They were much bigger than normal wolves when turned and they were known to have a half form. Part-man part-wolf all nightmare, their half form could bench-press a semi and out run one. For a short while, powerful they were but the half form had no stamina.
Joel nodded. "We were out camping," a practice I had never understood. Why would you leave your perfectly good home and pretend to be homeless for the weekend. "We were getting ready to go to sleep when they jumped out of the forest and started…" He shook his head. "Well it doesn't matter, what matters is that we were saved by the local pack. They had been hunting the rouge wolves and they got there just in time to save us."
Joel and I weren't close, I had always found him to entitled and he didn't much like me given that he was five years older than me, but to go through something like that, I shook my head and squeezed his shoulder. "I'm sorry that happened to you."
He smiled in thanks. "It's okay really, being a werewolf is kinda awesome and it made dad decide to settle down." Settle down? Mr. Jenson was already married. At my confused look he explained. "We need order, a routine and it's hard to have that when you're always traveling. So dad decided to make a bid for CEO, it still has some moving about but not as much." He grinned suddenly and said. "Besides, now I can do this."
He looked me straight in the eye and suddenly his blue eyes changed to a bright fierce yellow. I nearly fell out of my chair.
"Your face," Joel said laughing. "You should have seen your face."
I rolled my eyes, but laughed along. He may have scared me but it was better than the awkward tension that had been building between us.
"So your whole family was changed?" I asked.
Joel nodded. "Mom handled it great, she was the first one of us who manage to change without the full moon, and dad wasn't too far behind." He sounded proud as he continued. "I can do full wolf any time now. It took lots of practice, but its lots of fun to."
"Fun? I heard it was painful?" I asked. According to what I had read on Tier-Wechslers the transformation was very unpleasant.
Joel nodded. "The first few times it was very painful and during full moons it's always painful, but…" he trailed off thoughtfully before continuing, his voice soft. "It's a rush, the blood pumping in your veins as you run through the forest. The smells are so much clearer as a wolf and your hearing is so strong you can hear a pin drop from a kilometer away and the hunting, well, the hunting is much more visceral."
I listen spellbound as he spoke, it certainly sounded fun. I redoubled my determination to master Occlumency so I could start working on becoming an animagus.
He looked at me thoughtfully. "You know when I found out you were this famous witch I couldn't believe it." He laughed slightly pointing at me. "I mean this little slip of a girl stopping a Dark Lord. It sounded insane."
I glared at him, "Oh? And what so funny about me stopping him?" I mean I hadn't but I didn't like Joel's tone.
He shook his head consolingly. "I'm sorry, but come on I could beat you in fight even before I was a wolf." He raised a condescending eyebrow. "Now it wouldn't even be a fight."
I narrowed my eyes at him and, in my most dangerous voice said, "Careful little wolf, you may be big but my bites bigger."
He almost fell out of his chair he was laughing so hard. Maybe I need to work on my threats?
After he calmed down, he asked me if I would dance with him. I graciously accepted, if I happened to continually step on his toes during our time on the floor. Well, I'm sure the big bad wolf could take it.
888
The rest of the party passed quickly. Joel and I would alternate between dancing, bickering and the game room. When the time came for us to leave I was completely exhausted.
"You should come over during the summer. We could have a lot of fun." Joel's eyes were dancing as he spoke. He was under the impression that I had lost our little competition.
"Yeah, sure," My hand shot to my mouth to cover an absolutely enormous yawn. "I'll keep that in mind."
Joel waved goodbye as I got in the car. Dudley was already asleep in the back and Aunt Petunia was close to dropping in the front passenger seat. The only one who seemed to have any energy left was Vernon and even he seemed eager to get home.
Catching his eyes in the rearview mirror I asked. "You want me to stay up to help with the map?"
Vernon shook his head as we started down the drive. "I got it, you just get some sleep." His voice was gruff, but not unkind. Funny how I never noticed that before.
I nodded and closed my eyes, I was exhausted but I was never good at sleeping in the car. So I decided to meditate for a while.
Breath. Focus. Sense.
The party had been fun, more so than I had expected, but it still troubled me that I had never noticed that the Jenson's were werewolves. They were normal humans when I first met them but that was no excuse, I should have noticed some time since they turned. That I didn't meant I had to step up my game.
Voldemort, and who knew what else, was out there and wanted me dead. I needed to be more careful. Or else I would end up very dead.
Breath. Foc-
A laud popping sound wrenched me from my thoughts.
"Shit!" Vernon said voice strained, as he attempted to steer the suddenly tire-less car. I gripped my armrests as the car screeched down the road, sparks flying as the rims ground down on the asphalt.
Dudley started screaming I reached over to take his hand when the car careened off the road and into a tree. I was slammed into the seatbelt, no doubt bruising my ribs (again), and the air flew from my chest.
I gasped trying to fill my burning lungs. The only sound in the car as that of panicked breathing.
"Is everyone ok?" Vernon asked, voice rough as he started unstrapping himself. When no on responded he turned to look at Dudley and me. I nodded as best I could, finally get some air. Dudley was frozen stiff in shock but seemed fine otherwise.
"D-Dudley's fine, just scared." I rasped, finally grabbing Dudley's hand and giving it a squeeze. He didn't say anything but he did squeeze me back. "He's ok." I said again.
Vernon nodded and turned to Aunt Petunia, who had been silent since we crashed. "Pet are you ok?" When she didn't respond his voice turned urgent. "Pet? Pet? Pet talk to me!" Aunt Petunia's head lolled to the side, blood rushed out of a gash on her head.
No. Not Aunt Petunia, please not her. I can't lose any more family.
I can't.
"Aunt Petunia! Wake up!" I screamed, she had to be ok. She had to be.
Vernon reached over to feel her pulse. "She's just knocked silly. We just need to get her to the hospital."
"Mom?" Dudley said softly, his voice small and scared. That's right, I can't lose control. Dudley needs me. I lose control, he loses control.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and slowly released it. I did that again and once more until I thought I could speak without screaming. Only then did I unbuckle myself and scoot over to Dudley.
"She'll be fine D, you'll see." I put my arm over his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. Vernon gave me a nod as before pulling out his cellphone.
There was a sudden grinding screech as Aunt Petunia's door, which had opened slightly during the crash, was torn from its hinges. Before anyone could react she was pulled from the car by a dark shape. There were no lights on the road, we were still in the woods near the Jonson's house, so I couldn't make anything out when the shape snatched Aunt Petunia.
There was a moment of stunned silence as we all stared numbly unable to process what had just happened. Vernon was the first one to snap out of it. He threw open his door and leapt from the car slamming the door behind him before running around back and opening the trunk.
He came back around front tactical shovel in hand and shouted through the hole where a door used to be. "Stay in the car, take care of Dudley." He tossed me his cellphone. "Call 999 tell them what's happened." That done he ran off after Aunt Petunia.
He ran off to fight something that could tear through a car like it was tissue paper, with a shovel. With. A. Shovel.
I felt hysteria threating to overwhelm me, it may well have if Dudley hadn't spoken up.
"Alex?" He was looking at me, his entire continence screaming fear, but he was calm enough to talk. "Alex what do we do?" Dudley was terrified, but he was holding it together because he thought I knew what to do. I needed to hold it together, for Dudley.
For Dudley.
After taking a deep breath I removed my costume's gloves. On my left arm my new throwing knives and wand on the other the handkerchief portkey that Dumbledore had given me. I handed it to Dudley, he gave it a confused look. "Dudley say mints." He just looked confused. I grit my teeth and repeated myself. "Say mints!"
Dudley flinched, "M-mints?" He disappeared, no lights or smoke. Just there one moment and gone the next.
Perhaps the smart thing to do would have been to take the portkey with Dudley but I couldn't risk it. If Dumbledore wasn't in his office, if he was at the Ministry or God forbid the ICW, it could potently take him an hour to come save Aunt Petunia and Vernon. They would almost certainly be dead by then if I didn't do something.
I was not losing anymore family.
I flipped open the cell only to drop it in disgust when I saw that it had died. Either the portkey had killed it or my emotions had cased my magic to fry it.
It was a common phenomenon with White Council wizards, but fairly rare with wanded wizards. Once we bonded with a wand we channeled almost all of our magic through it. That's why accidental magic was so rare after we got our wands.
The hysteria nearly overwhelmed me again but I pushed it down. No matter, I would just have to deal with this myself.
I retrieved and un-shrunk my broom before reaching into my costume and grabbed the invisibility cloak. As soon as I touched it the cloak shot up my arm and covered the rest of my body in less than a second.
After insuring the broom was also invisible, I hugged it close and carefully flew out the gaping hole in the front.
It was nearly a week until the next full moon but there wasn't a cloud in the sky, a rarity in Britain, so there was just enough light to navigate. If I took it slow.
I flew through the trees, limiting myself to a slow careful pace, trying to find something to lead me to the monsters that took my Aunt. It was the middle of winter and there was a thick layer of snow on the ground, I should have been able to find a trail to follow even if I was just following Vernon's tracks, but I saw nothing. Whether that was due to my complete lack of tracking ability or the lack of a trail, I didn't know.
Not far away I heard a strangled scream. Vernon.
Turning the broom I went in the direction of the scream. After a moment I flew into a clearing. There I saw two huge wolves circling Vernon. They wolves were at least twice the size of any natural wolves and as I watched one of them ran at Vernon. He turned just so and slashed it, drawing blood and sending it running off, only for the other one to come up behind him and leave a bloody cut in his side. I frowned, they were playing with him. That last hit could have easily been fatal.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw another wolf crouched, watching the fight. I turned to look at it and saw Aunt Petunia laying on the ground just a few feet from it. I couldn't tell if she was breathing from here. I grit my teeth against the despair that threatened to overwhelm me at the thought of Aunt Petunia dead.
I took a moment to insure that there was no one else in the clearing before flying up and behind the wolf. I considered using my wand, I didn't care if I got expelled for using magic outside of school, but magic was flashy and I needed to be quite and there was no guaranty that any of my spells would be enough to kill a wolf. Werewolves were, like trolls, notoriously magic resistant and the knives were sliver one of the few things they were weak to.
If the wolves fighting Vernon noticed me fighting the other one they could decide to just kill him and then come deal me. I could get away but Aunt Petunia couldn't.
Vernon had shown me how to use knives years ago, he spent a moth showing me the basics and I had practiced nearly every day since then, my time at Hogwarts notwithstanding. I would only get one shot at this, if I missed the wolves would kill Vernon and Aunt Petunia. I took a slow, silent breath. I could do this. I drew one of my knives and sighted the wolf below me. I timed the throw with my exhale.
The knife flew through the air and, weather through luck or skill or some magic of the knives themselves, hit home at the base of the wolf's skull killing it instantly. The wolf's body sat there a moment, not knowing it was dead, before falling forward silently. Looking as if it had simply decided to lay down.
I waited a moment to see if it would move, or if the other wolves would notice. They kept playing with Vernon, alternating turns to take runs at him. He was doing ok but he was slowing.
I looked away and hovered down to check Aunt Petunia's pulse. I almost froze when she started disappearing, before getting ahold of myself. It was just the cloak. I heard something behind me and turned to see what it was. That was the only thing that saved my life.
As I turned one of the wolves slammed into me. Propelling the both of us off my broom and onto the cold snow below. The snow cushioned me enough that I didn't lose my breath. I looked at the snarling wolf on top of me, jerking my head to the side when it lunged forward teeth bard and only just managed to avoid its jaws.
It pulled back for another go and I raised my arm in front me. The wolf clamped down hard, instantly breaking my arm. Thankfully the adrenalin kept me from feeling it, even better the wolf had managed to clamp it jaw on my wand holster which was also where I was keeping my knives. Offering me some protection from its teeth.
The wolf yanked its head back, twisting my arm and dislodging the wand holster sending it, and my knives, flying. Turning back towards me it lunged forward again.
Grasping, desperately trying to keep it from killing me, I felt something around its neck. I yanked it off, revealing a necklace of some sort, and suddenly I wasn't dealing with a wolf. It was a fully grown man who was still lunging forwards. His now human head slammed into my face breaking my nose.
We both lay there dazed, he recovered first. He sat up, still pining me. And growled. "You killed Dave!" He brought his arm back and slammed it down on my face. I saw stars, and my vision went blurry "I'll kill you!" he brought his arm back again. I didn't think I could take another hit like that.
I reached my arm out, not to stop him, I couldn't if I wanted to he was too big. No I reached out and summoned one of my knives. When its hilt hit my hand I gripped it tightly and, before he could bring his fist down again I slammed it into the soft muscle where the arm met the torso. He froze, after a long moment he fell off me.
I kept a tight grip on the knife an when he hit the ground, his mouth moving silently as blood spilled from it, and slit his throat. The first stab might have killed him but I wasn't taking any chances.
On my knees now I tried to breath, my chest ached. The wreck and getting tackled by a two hundred pound wolf must have broken something. I tried to stand and nearly fell over. Groaning, I decided not to try that again anytime soon.
I heard Vernon shout before falling. I forced my head up and saw Vernon laying on the ground, his shovel only a few feet from him, and the wolf he had been fighting was scanning the clearing its eyes passed me before coming snapping back in my direction.
I was still invisible but the cloak was almost soaked in blood and that wasn't invisible. Was that how the other wolf knew where I was? It let lose a triumphant howl and started running in my direction, it seemed unburdened by the only having one working front leg.
As it ran towards me I tried to think of something to do. Anything, to get me out of this and I came up empty.
My arm was broken and hanging uselessly by my side, at least one of my ribs was broken and I couldn't even stand. My wand was too far away for me to reach, even if I could move. My only weapon was a small throwing knife, with which I might be able to wound the wolf, I was out of options and my family was about to pay the price for being related to me.
My broken hand brushed the necklace I had pulled of the other wolf. my heart skipped a beat when I felt its magic.
Both to free my good hand and to slow it, I threw my knife at the wolf and grabbed the necklace. I shuddered as I felt its vial magic, primal and dark its only desire was to kill and dominate. It was a horrible thing one that would leave its mark on me no matter what I did. It could very well change me, make me a monster if I put it on.
I didn't hesitate as I slipped it over my head, after all I would do much worse to protect my family.
My broken ribs, my useless arm, my busted nose, none of that mattered after I pulled the necklace on because I had a new body now. One suited to killing.
I jumped out of the way as the other wolf pounced, evading her with ease.
I smirked, my body was powerful. My legs were strong, I could run for days and not feel the strain. My eyes were sharp, I could easily see the hilt of my silver claw sticking out of the other, weaker, wolf's already broken leg. My teeth were sharp and my jaw was strong enough to break bone. I may have been small, only the size of a normal wolf, but I was more than strong enough to show this bitch just who the alpha was.
I bared my teeth in threat, but stopped confused when the other wolf didn't respond at all. She was looking around in confusion. Were her senses really that bad?
I watched her for a moment before I realized I was still invisible. I bared my teeth again, this time in celebration. Perfect, this would make future hunts much easier.
I shot forward and clawed her side, springing away before she could even respond. I did it again, and again and again. After the fifth repeat I started getting board. Pathetic. She was no challenge at all.
I jumped on her and wrestled her to the ground, my jaws held tightly on her throat not tight enough to kill but more than enough for her to understand her position. I growled.
Submit!
She went limp and I relaxed my jaws and she stayed down showing me her soft underbelly. I howled in triumph. I was alpha.
"Hold." A voice interrupted my celebration. I turned to look at a small overweight human. "My, my, a first year Hogwarts student who was able to disable three hexan-wolves. Standards must have improved since I graduated."
I growled, and took a threating step forward. Forgetting that he could not see me. He must have guessed my meaning because he thrust a stick, a wand a small voice whispered, at me. I bared my teeth, if he thought I was afraid of a stick he was sorely mistaken. I would kill him as an example to other humans not to bother me. Not that it would stop them, humans were distressingly slow witted at times.
I would probably have to kill a dozen of them before they got the message. It would be fun, but first this one.
I tensed my legs to jump at him, he wasn't far and one lunge would be all it took to kill him, but when I went to move I couldn't. What was going one, I was perfectly healthy moving shouldn't be any problem.
The small fat human was laughing. "Your trying to attack me aren't you?" He laughed some more. Stupid fat thing, stop laughing and come closer so I can kill you. "Why don't you drop that invisibility spell?" Despite myself I teisted my head and gripped the cloak in my teeth and pulled it off.
I looked at him hatefully. I want to taste you blood, I would probably be able to taste all the McDonalds he ate. "You see I made that necklace, it is the necklace isn't it?" He shook his head. "It doesn't matter, because you see I made it and I made sure that I could control it. So anyone who wears it, is mine to command." I growled again, his to command? No. I was alpha, not some stupid fat human!
He looked at my bitch. "Isn't that right Elsa?" I looked at her was still on her back but her head was cocked in his direction. "Alex kill Elsa." No, she was mine, she was pack. You don't kill pack, what idiot killed pack? I growled, but I couldn't stop myself from walking over to her. "I want you to understand something Alex, I am your alpha, your master, your god. My word is your command and I command you to kill her." I fought it with all my might, but despite all my strength my body got closer and closer.
Elsa whined and the fat human laughed. "If you wanted to live you should have subdued her like I said. But no you idiots couldn't even do that right. First you grab the old muggle and then you lose to a child. No, you have long outlived your usefulness." My jaws clamped onto her neck. The fat man looked at me and grinned. "Glare all you want Alex, those pretty green eyes won't change my mind." I growled, I was going to kill him slowly. "Ki…" The other fat human, who had been laying on the ground, slammed a long sharp stick into the short fat human's neck. Taking the stupid one's head off.
"You leave my niece alone you bastard." The other fat human, no Vernon my Uncle, said. He turned to look at me. "Alex? Are you alright where's Dudley?"
I huffed. The pup was safe, I made sure of that before I came to save you.
I was about to go lay down, fighting the stupid fat man's magic was tiring, when I heard the war cry of a phoenix. It froze me in place, the pure white magic of the cry disrupting the necklaces enchantment, long enough for Fawkes to fly down and pull the necklace off me.
I fell to the ground, thankfully a short distance, and my vision swam. Fawkes started singing, my last thought before the song sent me to sleep was that it couldn't have been more than twenty minutes since I sent Dudley away.
