Walter Stricklander stood at the edge of a pool.
The air was still, in this wooded clearing, but somehow not stale. He had a strange awareness that, while he knew he was dreaming, this was somehow very real. He took a step forward and his clawed green feet sunk into the thick moss but left no tracks.
He lowered himself to peer into the pool. A very familiar human face stared back. He drew in a shaky breath. He hadn't been able to shift since the eternal night. He would be lying if he claimed that he didn't long for it. Slowly he reached out and touched the water.
The moment he did so he knew it was a mistake. Ripples spread from the point of contact. Walter tried to draw his hand back but the water clung to it; instead he found himself being pulled forward.
He plunged into the water and desperately struggled to fight his way to the surface. He kept sinking, pulled down by some unseen current. Eventually he could no longer hold his breath and gasped in the dark water. It burned in his lungs and he tried to cough it out but there was nothing to replace it with.
As his struggles grew weaker and the last ray of light faded from the surface, he felt a familiar warmth wrap around him. He tried to pull away, but he was weak and the seemingly gentle embrace was as solid as a cage of iron.
His struggles finally faded to naught.
"It's no use child," HER voice murmured in his ear. She caressed his cheek in a way that was uncomfortably familiar. "You may choose to denounce me. You may run and pretend all you want, but in the end I made you and you are mine."
He was released and suddenly he was drowning once again.
"It is best you give up soon," She said as She left him to his fate. "I grow tired of waiting."
Walter shot upright in his bed with a scream. He scrambled up and darted into the bathroom. He made it to the mirror just in time to see the yellow light fading from his eyes.
His claws made a grating sound on the marble counter top as his hands clenched into fists.
He had known it wouldn't be that easy.
He wondered how long he would be able to hold out for.
Author Note:
I'm marking this complete because it's made of oneshots and I would like people who only look at complete stuff to be able to find it. Don't worry I keep adding oneshots to it as inspiration strikes me.