Chapter Seven- Full Circle

I was not much older than Atticus when I was cursed, though I saw it as a gift not long after my first full moon. My mentor was a kind old man when I met him. I had no idea of his true nature or age. But that would soon change:

"Remus, my boy, you have been a charming companion," said the old man, William.

"Thank you sir, but I like being with you and hearing all those supernatural stories you have."

"Yes, I noticed. You enjoy hearing them because the supernatural fascinates you."

"It does."

"Good, good. I have a gift for you." William reached into a pocket and pulled out a gold choker with a moonstone in the center.

Remus gasped at the beauty of the choker as William put it around his neck. "It's beautiful. Thank you." He looked out the window to see the sun almost gone and he stood. William never had visitors after sun set and knew it was time to go. "Well, I'll see you another time."

"Oh, you don't have to leave this time, Remus."

Remus froze halfway to the door. "I don't?"

"No. I have another gift for you." William stood as the sky darkened and he howled before he began to change. His sliver hair changed to fur and spread over his body. His palms developed pads while fur grew on the backs and the nails grew into long sharp claws. The robe William wore tore apart as his body grew in size and the muscles enlarged. A muzzle pushed forward while his ears became wolf ears. His legs bent into wolf legs as his feet became paws with extended claws. A tail grew behind him as his eyes became glowing red ones that focused on Remus and the choker.

Remus stood frozen in fear and shock as William transformed into a silver two-legged wolf. He locked eyes with William as the werewolf came closer, growling. The sound shook Remus out of his shock and he backed up a few steps. William sprang forward with a thrust from his legs, seized Remus, and bit down on the shoulder. Remus screamed and fell unconscious when he was hit on the head. He laid on the floor as William bounded out the door, howling.

Remus awoke to sunlight and as he slowly sat up, his saw William sitting on the floor in front of him, fully dressed. He scrambled backwards, eyes wide with fear. William smiled at him. "I understand your fear, but you are not in danger."

"You-you're a werewolf…and you bit me!"

"Yes. My entire family are werewolves born. If I was to turn someone who is not family, I needed to attach the choker and then bite on the full moon."

Remus put a hand on the choker. "Will the curse break if I remove this?"

"No. I have bitten you and if you remove that, you will lose your human voice on non-full moon nights until you curse someone in turn."

"Non-full moon nights?"

"Yes. My family changes every night. On the full moon, we are dangerous vicious monsters who remember nothing save for if they bite someone. On the other nights, we become normal wolves however we remember everything and are in complete control."

"I'll change every night," Remus said slowly and a bit sadly.

"You don't like it. I thought you would seeing as you are fascinated by the supernatural."

"I probably would if I knew what to expect."

"Of course you'll know. I will teach you. However, as there are two full moons left, I can only teach during the day."

Remus' eyes softened as he recalled his lessons. William had been patient, informative, and more than a mentor; Remus saw him as a friend and father. He took William's advice of concealing his secret and succeeded in doing so for about six months despite the pointed ears, the long nails, and the gold seeping into his green eyes. His secrecy made him a bit distant with his brother who he used to be so close. He reflected on the day Romulus discovered his secret:

Remus had slipped out of the house with ease and without anyone noticing or so he thought. He was unaware of Romulus' eyes on him. He had been suspicious of Remus leaving the house every night and also wondered why his brother had become so distant over the last several months. He was tired of Remus' secrecy and decided to follow him to find out what he was hiding.

He was able to follow Remus by the light of the setting sun and staying back a considerable distance for his brother had a sensitive sense of smell he had developed around the time he became distant. He came to a stop behind some bushes, crouched down, and peered around the edge to see his brother in a clearing and removing his clothes. The sun vanished and by the light of the half-moon, Romulus watched in shock as Remus turned into a black wolf. Oh God! Remus is a…a werewolf!? Romulus watched as Remus sniffed the ground and then the air before calling out, "Brother, I know you're there. Why did you follow me?" He turned around.

Romulus came out of hiding and faced Remus. "I followed because I had wondered why you went out every night and had been distant with me. Why did you not tell me?"

"I had promised my mentor that I would hide it as it was likely no one would understand or accept my condition."

"I accept it. You're still my brother and I love you. I promise not to tell our parents or anyone else."

Remus nuzzled Romulus' hand and licked it. "Thanks. I appreciate that."

It had been about six weeks later that the smell of wolf came off Romulus. When I confronted him about it, he admitted to being bitten and that he was jealous of me. He wanted to be a werewolf and sought out one to bite him as I had refused to do so. I was a bit happy to have a second werewolf to spend the nights with until Romulus starting acting different. I began following him to find out why and learned the terrible truth: He had been bitten by an evil werewolf and his nature and personality was becoming evil and dark. I had tried to talk him away from that path but he refused to listen, claiming I was jealous that he would be a better werewolf than I could ever hope to be.

I told William about Romulus, how he learned my secret, grew jealous, and got bitten by an evil werewolf. He listened with sympathy and told me there was a way to turn Romulus from his dark path. All I had to do was bite him or William could do it. He had offered to do it, but I refused. It was my fault Romulus was evil for I had refused to bite him.

Romulus' mentor had apparently warned him about this method for he stayed away from me at night and if I happened to find him, he would wound me severely enough to escape me. I'm surprised he didn't try to kill me early on in my attempts to turn him good. He still hasn't tried to kill me. It's possible that he still loves me despite his evil nature. But then again, he followed me to this island so maybe he's getting ready to kill.

Things have come full circle. I did remove the choker and found that William had told the truth, not that I doubted him. I could only make wolf sounds at night. I ended up passing on the curse after speaking as a wolf for years. Atticus now bears the curse that I have had for decades. He enjoys it as I have and I still do. His sister accepted his condition and then grew jealous of it just as Romulus did.

Atticus refused to bite her just as I refused my brother. Alexis went in search of me or Atticus on the recent full moon to get bitten and met up with Romulus. He bit her, making her an evil wifewolf. Romulus had also met up with an evil werewolf and got bitten.

There are four cursed people on this island, two good and two evil. Remus' eyes widened suddenly. Romulus will surely try to kill me now that he has a student of his own. She will follow his decisions and I only hope that Atticus and I succeed in turning both of them good and healing our family rifts.