I'm back with the next chapter of I'm The Wolf. This is the second part of Petra's flashback.
Enjoy
(P.S.- Hibye, please log in sometime soon so I can PM you. Keep checking your Email to, so you can actually get my PMs.)
I'm going to have Petra sing a lot throughout the story. It's going to be her way of remembering the past. I hope you don't mind.
Petra's theme song: Monster by Paramore Seriously people, listen to the song.
Disclaimer: I'm not Rick, therefore I own nothing but the plot, and my OC'S Payne, Silvinia, Delilah and Alice. Petra belongs to Hibye.
I sat up in horror. I quickly threw off my covers and tumbled out of bed. Alric groaned quietly and sat up.
"What was that?" He asked tiredly. I put my finger up to my lips, gesturing for him to stay quiet. "Stay here." I told him sternly, but my voice betrayed me by wavering fearfully. He stared at me, now wide awake. He doesn't see me frightened that often. "Petra, what's going on?"
"Just stay here, Rikky. Please." I said, my voice sounded slightly desperate. Alric stared at me, then finally nodded. I turned towards my door. I quietly opened it, then tiptoed out of the entrance of my bedroom. I heard a harsh hissing that sounded a lot like laughter.
"Pathetic mortal." I heard one of the raspy voices of one of the women said.
"Yesss." The other agreed amusedly, "Let usss find the children."
I heard something that sounded like something heavy was being dragged across the wooden floor. The door to my mothers room opened and I pushed my self against the wall, hiding in the shadows. Please don't see me, please don't see me.
I had to stifle a scream when I saw the women. Or whatever the hell they were. Above the waist the had the body of a women, though their skin was tinged an ugly shade of green. They wore armor and both of them sported a sword and shield. The bottoms of their forearms were covered in shiny green scales and there had needle-like fangs (like a snakes) and green glowing eyes of a reptile. Below their abdomens they had snake trunks instead of legs. I recognized them as dracaena from mythology. I knew that monsters and the gods and all of that kind of stuff from Greek mythology was real, but I had been lucky enough to have never run into them.
The one that was taller than the other pointed down the hall, and they both start to slither down it, and away from me. I heaved a silent breath of relief and ran as fast as I could to my mothers' room, but was careful to stay silent.
I looked at the bed. My mother was no longer on it. The covers were everywhere and there were tears in the pillow and mattress. The was a crimson stain in the middle of the bed. I gasped.
"Mamá?" I whisper called, I felt tears well up in my eyes, but they didn't fall. I slowly walked toward the bed, then called her name again.
"Petra?" I heard my mother utter from the other side of the bed. I quickly rushed around the bloody bed and saw my mother brawled on the floor, lying in a pool of her own scarlet blood. She had a very deep stab wound in her torso, and she was as pale as paper. Her veins were a fading blue, for all of the blood that once ran through them was gushing out.
"Mamá" I said quietly, my voice weak. I fell to the ground next to her, not caring that her blood was seeping through my pants.
The tears that refused to descend just moments before came rushing out like a waterfall. My mother looked at me, her beautiful hazel eyes shining with unshed salty water.
"Do not cry, koritsáki mou," she told me, her voice raspy and weak, "you must be strong for your brother, and for me." I couldn't stop my tears. Mamá slowly reached up her hand and pushed my black hair out of my face, then wiped away my tears. Like she use to do when I was younger. Her hands were as cold as ice.
"You're dying, Mamá." I said feebly. She closed her eyes and gave a small nod. She opened her eyes and she looked at me with a serious glint in her eyes.
"You need to leave this place, Petra. You and Alric." She told me, "They have found us." I furrowed my eye brows. "Who? Who's found us?" I asked. My mother's eyes flickered to the ceiling, then the ground, and finally back to me.
"Your uncles." she answered. I stared at her in confusion.
"But why w-" I started, but she cut me off. "There is no time to explain. Under my bed, there is a box, get it out." Mamá told me, her voice getting more frail every time she said something, as if talking was taking up all of the strength she had left. I quickly did what she was told, and pulled a long wooden box out from under the bed.
" Inside it is a knife. Open the box and take it out." she ordered, I nodded and opened the lid.
There was a knife inside, like my mother said. It was at a half feet long, and the keen blade was turquoise in color but I saw little flecks of gold and bronze. The hilt bas made of black leather, with delicate wave designs on it and pearls imbedded in it. I might have been imagining it, but I'm sure the I saw something on the blade moving. I studied it again, and with a faint shock I realized that I was right. The metal had little ripples traveling through it, like how water does when you touch it. It looked beautiful, but I knew it was very deadly. I took it out and stared at it, then back at my mother.
"It was a gift from your father. I wasn't going to give it to you until your turned 14, but now I have no choice." her voice was getting quieter. "I know you haven't trained at all with it, but when the time comes you'll know what to it protect yourself and your brother." She told me. I stared at the blade.
Where am I supposed to keep it? I surely can't hold it forever. As if my mother had read my mind, she answered my question.
"Tap the bottom of the hilt twice." she told me. I hesitated for a moment, then did what she told me to. I tapped the bottom of the hilt two times, and then the knife glowed a sea green color, then transformed in my hands. Where the dagger one was lay a necklace. It hade a bronze chain and on the chain was a pendant that was shaped like waves. Underneath the waves, it said my name in Greek.
"Put it on," I did "whenever you need the knife, just wrap you hand around your name and pull the necklace off. It's become your weapon again." I nodded.
"Petra, I'll be dead soon." My mother told me. I looked up at her with a frightened expression. Mamá gave me a sad smile. "Don't grieve, I'll always be with you and Alric
"You need to leave, now. Leave the country, protect your brother." She said. I felt tears coming again, but they didn't fall. I nodded slowly.
"You've always been a good girl, I̱ kóri̱ mou." She said, staring up at the ceiling, her muscles slightly tense.
"Take care of your brother, he needs you more than ever now." she whispered so faintly I barely head her. "Yes, I will Mamá" She gave another sad smile to the ceiling as her muscles started to relax.
"S 'agapó̱, éna kai ton aderfó sou agapó̱ tóso polý." she told me. I choked back a sob.
"I love you, too, Mamá." I said. My mothers smile grew the slightest bit, before her face became neutral and the light left her eyes. A single tear fell down my cheek before I hastily wiped it away.
"Do not cry, koritsáki mou, you must be strong for your brother... and for me"
I took a deep breath and stood up, ignoring my blood soaked clothes and scarlet hands. I turned and walked out the doorway, no longer bothering to stay quiet.
"There isss one." I heard one of the dracaena hiss. I looked to my right and saw the monster had killed my mother. Though on the outside my face was neutral, my insides were burning with rage. I glared at them. They both laughed. "I call this one, you can kill the boy." The one with the longer sword said. This only made me more furious.
"Protect your brother."
The monster slowly slithered towards me with a sneer, as if she thought I was helpless. I growled and wrapped my fingers around my necklace, then pulled it off. When she saw my dagger, she faltered for the slightest second, then charged. My eyes widened and my mind went blank. My instincts kicked in and I rolled to the side and stabbed the dracaena in the side. Her eyes widened in disbelief and she crumbled into grey dust.
The other stared at her sister in shock before screaming a cry of rage. She lunged at me, still shouting defiantly. I ducked as she clumsily swung her sword, I kicked her in the stomach. The monster stumbled back a bit, and I quickly stabbed her in the chest. She exploded into powder. I looked down at the monster ashes panting.
"Petra?" I heard a small terrified voice ask. I turned around and saw Alric staring at me in horror, but he didn't look scared of me. I looked down and realized that I was still covered in blood.
"What's going on? Where's Mamá?" he asked. I gave him a sad look. "There's no time to explain. I need you to go get your book bag and pack three pairs of clothes for both you and me, and our sleeping bags." I ordered, my voice sounding stronger than I expected it to. He looked like he wanted to protest, but after a harsh look from me he did what I had told him to do.
I then turned and ran into the kitchen. I grabbed my mother purse and dumped everything out of it. Then I went over to the counter and got the cookie jar where my mother keeps all of our money. I took all of it (it was about 400 dollars) and shoved it into the purse. I was about to walk out when I saw a bag filled with little squares in it and a clear canteen filled with a golden liquid. I don't remember ever seeing them before.
Take them, Petra. A voice that sounded nothing like my own told me. I jumped, startled. Take them. The voice said again. I decided to take them.
Alric came in a moment later, his back pack on his back. He still looked scared and confused, but he grabbed when I held it out to him. I pulled him into a hug, then whispered the horrid news to him.
"Mamá is dead."
He pulled away from me, disbelief in his eyes. "That's not funny, Sis." he said. I gave him a sad look, "I'm not joking, mikró"
He stared at me, tears shining in his eyes. "B-but... No. N-no." he whimpered.
"No, no, NO! She' NOT dead! She can't be!" he shouted, before starting to sob. I pulled him into another hug. "She can't be." he said softly into my shoulder. I rocked him back and forth, it always calms him down. Alric was still crying when I released him, just not as hard. I wiped his tears away, the same way my mother did to me.
"We need to leave, mikró." I told him, "We need to leave the country, Mama told me." My brother sniffed, tears still falling. After a few minutes, he nodded. I took his hand again and led him out the door.
We walked about thirteen miles before Alric started to get tired, we made it another mile before Alric collapsed in exhaustion.
"I'm tired, Petra. Can we sleep here tonight?" he asked. I sighed and looked around. I had no idea were we were exactly.
"We can't sleep in the open, Rikky." I told him, even though every sore muscle was screaming that we should. "I know, I wasn't talking about sleeping here." He said. I put my hands on my hips. "Then, where did you want to sleep?" Alric pointed behind me, "There."
I turned around and saw an abandoned ware house. I looked back at my brother who stared at me with pleading puppy dog eyes. They were red from crying so much, and little bags were appearing under them.
"Okay." I sighed.
Alric lay in his sleeping bag while I sat down next to him, running my fingers through is black locks, like I did for Mamá. He looked so tired, but I could see that he was having trouble falling asleep.
"I want Mommy." he said after a little while. Alric looked like he wanted to cry again. "Me, too, mikró." I sighed, "Me too." We became quiet again, staring at the stars through the giant gap in the ceiling.
"I can't sleep." he told me. I gave him a sad look. "Try to mikró. You'll need all the energy you have."
"She wasn't supposed to die." Alric started again. I looked down at him. "Oh, Al. Everyone dies eventually." I said. He shook his head.
"The gods live forever, Petra." He said. I pursed my lips,
"Yes, but Mamá isn't a god. She's mortal. And all mortals die sooner or later. Mom's time just came sooner than we expected." I told him gently. He looked away from me, and became silent again. Five minutes later, and Alric was still awake, though he was desperately trying to fall asleep. He had his eyes tightly shut, and he kept flipping onto different sides, as if trying to get comfortable. I sighed. It saddened me to see him the way he is now. I scooted closer to him and gently rubbed his back. I moved my hand out of the way as Alric rolled onto his back and looked at me, then up at the stars. I opened my mouth and started to sing quietly, but loud enough for him to hear me, a sweet and delicate tune. A song Mamá used to sing to the both of us when we were younger and couldn't fall asleep.
It's you and me
The stars and moon will keep us company
They'll watch over us as we fall asleep
And I will hold you close
I pulled him to me in a firm hug. It was almost as if we were spooning, Hades, and I half expected him to pull away muttering about cooties. Instead he leaned into my embrace, and let out a sad little sigh.
So lay your head down on the pillowcase
Close your eyes and feel my warm embrace
'Cause in my arms you know you will be safe
And I won't let you go
I could tell from his body language that he recognized and remembered this song. He managed to cheer up and get even sadder at the same time, something only an Alric could possibly do. I held him tighter and continued to warble
So baby let my heartbeat be
The rhythm that puts you to sleep
My smile will be the first thing you see
I managed to give Alric a small grin, and he smiled softly back at me. I could see he was slowly falling asleep.
When you wake up...
When you wake up
When you wake up
So dream with me
I grabbed Alric's small hand and gave it a friendly squeeze.
Hold my hand; escape reality
Let my love be your cavalry
And I will hold you close
I let go of his hand and wrapped my arms around him and pulled him even closer to me, then started to softly rock from side to side like our mi̱téra used to do, still crooning.
Don't you worry; I'll be by your side
I promise I'll be there through the night
I'll comfort you 'til morning light
And I won't let you go
Alric slowly closed his eyes, but his body was still stiff. Not relaxed like a sleeping person's would be. I continued to rock, and as I sang, I began to trill the slightest bit.
So baby let my heartbeat be
The rhythm that puts you to sleep
My smile will be the first thing you see
When you wake up
So baby let my heartbeat be
The rhythm that puts you to sleep
My smile will be the first thing you see
When you wake up
I felt Alric relax the slightest bit more, but he still wasn't asleep. I lied him back onto the ground and pulled up his sleeping baby so it covered him more. I didn't stop sing the lullaby though. I started running my fingers through his hair again, which seemed to calm him more.
So baby let my heartbeat be
The rhythm that puts you to sleep
My smile will be the first thing you see
When you wake up
Alric's body finally went completely slack as he finally drifted off into slumber, but I didn't stop. I looked up at the stars as I sang them last part to myself.
So baby let my heartbeat be
The rhythm that puts you to sleep
My smile will be the first thing you see
When you wake up
...
When you wake up
I sighed and lied down. I swear I saw one of the stars glow ten times brighter than the rest before going back to normal. But before I could decide if I imagined it or not, my eye lids fell and darkness took control.
"Mamá!" I cried as I saw her broken body on the floor. I ran to her, but it was far to late. I fell to my knees beside, falling into a giant puddle of my mothers blood. Blood.
There's was so much of it. More than possible, and the worst part is that the crimson liquid would not stop pouring out of my mother's practically lifeless body. I wept as I desperately tried to stop the bleeding. My mother stared at me unnervingly, the light ever so slowly leaving her eyes. I finally gave up, my Mamá's blood soaking my PJ's and hands. "I'm sorry." I sobbed out loudly, "I'm so, so sorry Mamá." I cried over and over again. My mother looked up at me, hate in her dulling eyes.
"You've failed me, Petra." she hissed with her final breath, before the life leaving her once beautiful hazel eyes, no longer full of love and light. I let out an anguished scream, crying even harder. My body racked with heartbroken sobs. "I'm SORRY!" I screamed over and over again, before growing quieter. I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged myself, rocking back and forth. I stared at my Mamá's corpse with wide, red rimmed, tear filled blue-green eyes.
"I tried. I tried. I really tried, Mommy. I did." I chanted deliriously out loud. A harsh wind blew towards me, even though I was inside with no windows open
But not hard enough, Petra. I heard my Mamá state bitterly in my head. Boreíte epitrépste mou na petháno̱ .
Eímai nekrós exaitías sou, Petra
I woke up gasping, and looked around wildly. After I remember where I was, I heaved a quiet sigh of relief, careful not to wake up Alric. It was just a dream. I shuddered. But it felt so real. Like it was my fault my mi̱téra was dead. I could done something, I could have tried harder! No! Bad Petra! Do not think like that. A voice inside my head that didn't sound at all like me scolded. There was absolutely nothing you could have done, now calm down and go back to sleep. I decided to listen to the voice. I lied back down and closed my eyes, and once again fell asleep.
~*~ TiMeSkIp ~*~
2 1/2 months later
Alric and I trudged through a forest somewhere in Naples, Italy. We hadn't slept in four days - we've been running into more and more monsters. I kept Alric even closer to me than usual these last few weeks. Speaking of my brother... I stole a glance at him. He had grown at least three inches since Mamá's death, while I haven't changed at all. In my physical appearance, I mean. Alric and I didn't look much alike. I was tall for a 13 year old girl, at 5'6, was fairly skinny, and had very long straight raven hair (it almost reached my waist) that was a tangled mess after not being brushed for two and a half months. My ivory skin was lightly tanned and I had a small button nose, freckles that decorated my cheeks and nose, light pink bow shaped lips, and almond shaped eyes and sea green iris'. Meanwhile, Alric had shaggy cinnamon brown hair that fell into his almond shaped aqua eyes. He was also slightly tall for his age. 9 years old and was 5'1 1/2. He too had ivory skin, but he didn't seem to tan like me. I absentmindedly ran my fingers threw his hair as I stared unseeing at the darkness in front of me. A sudden breeze picked up and I shuddered, pulling my jacket closer to me, trying without success to warm up. I didn't want to light a fire incase it attracted some unwanted attention. I leaned back against the tree. The forest was quiet, apart from the chirping crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl. A few minutes passed, and my eyes were getting heavier and heavier. I tried to resist the compulsive urge to close them and fall asleep. More time passed and it was getting harder to stay awake. Finally I gave in and shut my eyes.
We walked through the dark forest, the full moon hidden behind a dark curtain of clouds. "Petra, when are going to be able to sleep?" Alric asked me softly rubbing his eyes and giving an almighty yawn. I smiled sadly.
" I don't know, mikró. But hopefully soon" I told him. He nodded slowly, he knew not to question or argue with me. We walked on silently. About ten minutes, Alric tripped over a tree root and fell flat on his face, I grinned a bit, but it immediately fell when he didn't get up. I rushed over to him. "Alric?" I asked, worried. I was answered by a soft snore. I half sighed in pity and half groaned in annoyance. I woke him up and led him over to a giant tree. I motioned for him to lay down.
"Go to sleep, Rikky. I'll wake you up in an hour." I told him. He gave me a grateful look and lied on a soft patch of grass. Within seconds he was asleep. I sat down next to him and looked around warily, half expecting an ugly monster to come charging at us. After a few minutes my head was filled with thousands of different thoughts and I was overcome with different emotions for each one.
I woke up some time later and stretched, yawning silently. Alric was still asleep next to me. I looked around, wondering how long I was out. It was still night, that much I knew. The big, bright full moon was now visible and grinning down at me. I went to wake Alric up when I heard a loud snap, as if someone had just stepped on a stick and broke it. My hand automatically went to the necklace around my neck and it transformed into my knife, which I named Ocean Λάμα. I stood up, doing my best not to make a sound and heedfully looked at wear the noise came from. All I saw were trees, but I had a very bad feeling. I quickly woke Alric up and pulled him away from the spot. He didn't question me, which I was grateful for. We walked through woodland, at a faster pace than usual. I swear I heard someone, or something following us, so I made Alric walk faster. I heard low, rugged panting from behind us and started to run, pulling Alric with me. My heart jumped up to my throat in fear and pounded harshly against my lungs, making it harder to breathe the faster I ran. We finally stopped once we got to a big clearing. At first, I though we had los them, but then I heard a low, terrifying growl that definitely didn't belong to any human or any normal animal. I pushed Alric behind me and brought up Ocean Λάμα, holding her in front of me in a defensive stance. I stared at the spot where the growl came from, everything silent, no more singing crickets or hooting owls. The only thing that I heard were Alric's light pants and the blood pounding in my ears. Nothing happened. Just when I thought it had gone away, and giant black and grey shape charged out of the forest.
At first I thought it was a hell hound, but I was much to small, and didn't look like a dog. Instead it resembled a giant wolf. It was on all fours, but it still stood terrifyingly at about 5'10". It had cold, soulless black eyes and the sharpest teeth I have ever seen. I stumbled back in shock and fear as it got closer. I heard Alric stating to hyperventilate in fear, whimpers escaping, and protectiveness over came my fright.
I slashed wildly once the monster was close enough, and managed to cut a very deep into its skin on it snout. It howled in pain and my eyes widened in horror at how human like it sounded. It growled menacingly at me and pounced. I ducked and rolled to the side and the giant wolf landed where I was the second before. I tried to stab it in the side but it was ready this time. It leaped to the side to dodge the blow and raked my chest with its giant paw, its claws digging into my flesh. I gasped at the sudden white hot pain, but kicked it in the snout as hard as I could we both we sent backward and I landed on my back. The wolf quickly recovered and ran over to me with lightning speed. It snapped its jaws and I rolled out of the way before it managed to get a bite. And that was probably the biggest mistake I have ever made.
The monster saw Alric and he flashed his teeth, making it look like he was smiling cruelly at my little brother. It lunged and before I could react, sank his fangs into my kid brothers leg. I stood frozen in horror as mikró fell to the forest ground screaming at the top of his lungs. The wolf and I both watched, the wolf in satisfaction and me in pure terror, Alric writhe on the ground, his anguished screams getting louder and louder, tears streaming from his darkened, pain filled eyes. I wanted to cover my ears to block out his screams, but I couldn't move. Oh my god, the sounds he was making was something no human being should ever make. They were terrorizing, horrifying, and inhumane. Alric's screams didn't even sound human anymore. Then he went silent. He was still squirming on the forest floor, tears kept coming, and his mouth was open as if he was still screaming, but no sound came out. That was when I snapped out of it and rushed forward to help him. But before I could reach mikró, the wolf turned and its humungous paw mad contact with my still bleeding chest, and I flew back as it I way less the air. I hit the ground with a dull thump. Pain exploded in my head as my head banged on something hard and I sat up clutching it. Black was creeping into my vision, but I ignored it and got up. I looked back up and saw the beast pick up Alric by the back of his shirt like it was nothing, and bound away with him.
No!
I ran after them, but I was getting dizzier by the minute. I stumbled and tripped, but still chased after them. They were disappearing.
"NO! COME BACK! BRING HIM BACK HEAR" I screamed, voice cracking at how loud I yelled, desperation heard clearly in my words. Tears ren down my cheeks like a waterfall. I couldn't see them anymore but I still ran aimlessly. "PLEASE! BRING HIM BACK! BRING ALRIC BACK!" I screeched, tears blurring my vision and snot running. No, no, NO! I tripped and fell forward. Rocks and thorns tore through my clothes and skin, my chest still causing horrid pain and my shirt stained with blood, head throbbing, but I still got up and continued running, turning random directions. "PLEASE! HE'S ALL I HAVE LEFT! MY BROTHER, GIVE ME MY BROTHER!" I tripped again, and got up again. "ALRIC. COME BACK! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! I'M SORRY I COULDN'T PROTECT YOU FROM IT! BUT I PROMISE I'LL DO BETTER! JUST_" my voice cracked in desperation and terror and anguish, "just please... come back to me." I whispered broken heartedly before falling again, this time purposely. I landed on my knees and caught my self with my hands. My dirty tangled hair fell down and curtained my face, hiding my pain filled, red puffy eyes that still had tears leaking from them, and my heartbroken, suffering face from the rest of the world. Loud cries of regret, pain, sorrow, grief, angst, misery and so much more escaped my mouth and into the cold night air.
I'm so sorry Alric. So, so sorry. This is all my fault. I have failed. Failed myself. Failed you. Failed Mamá. I will never forgive myself.
"Protect your brother." The tears came faster, and I put my head between my knees as my sobs grew louder, the only thing that could be heard on this horrible dead night.
I continued to cry. I cried for the longest time, until finally my raw throat couldn't take it any more and my tears had dried up. The monster flashed again in my head, and I finally realized what the beast was. I looked up at the full moon with hate, and it's gentle grin was replaced with a cold, harsh sneer. My brother, with out a doubt, is one of them now. Either that or dead. Like Mamá. Either way, he is gone, and I can't get him back.
I'm alone.
That hit me like a pile of gold bricks. I'm alone. No Alric, and no Mamá. I am completely, utterly by myself now. I couldn't cry anymore. I had used up all of my tears. Instead, I looked up at the glaring moon and opened my mouth.
The once silent night was broken by a terrible inhumane scream filled anguish. And the 13 year old girl fell to the ground unconscious, oblivious to the pale, graceful figures surrounding her limp body.
She didn't just lose her brother that night, she lost half of her sanity, her family, and her beating heart. Petra Kronos was never again the same.
Wow, this was the losngest chapeter I have written so far, and the saddest and most intense. Anyway, reviews=Happy Author. Happy Author= Faster updates. Faster Updates= Joy for everyone.
Poor Petra.
The song was 'Lullaby' by Chester See. It a beautiful song and Chester is an amazing singer, so you should go check him out.I'M STILL WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GUESS MY CORRECT AGE. FIRST PERSON TO DO SO GETS A SHOUTOUT, A SNEAK PEAK AT THE NEXT CHAPTER, AND VIRTUAL COOKIES. I'LL EVEN LET YOU BE A GUEST STAR IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. I'M SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 11 AND 21 YEARS OLD
Until next time my wonderful fanfictioners! ~turns into a werewolf and runs away howling happily~