I'd gone insane. It was the only explanation. Wither that or I was having a nightmare. One so vivid I couldn't tell dream from reality. Any minute now Amber or Rick would wake me up, really wake me, and then we'd all go home and never set foot in woods again. There was not a cute guy opposite me telling me he was a werewolf.
Werewolves were not real. They were stories. Myths. Legends. Next we'd get Big Foot coming in.
"Okay," I said slowly.
He smiled a little. "You don't believe me." It wasn't a question.
I groaned again. I didn't know how to describe the feeling inside me. It was a
gnawing in my stomach, like hunger, but something much, much stronger. I wanted something to eat, but I wasn't sure what. Somehow, I knew that ordinary food and drink would do nothing for me. I wasn't sure how I knew this, I just...knew it.
"So, you're a werewolf," I said finally. What else could I say? I could actually think of plenty of things, but when there was a werewolf in the room with you, it probably wasn't wise to say the things I was thinking. But then again...I wondered if maybe I should, then I could see the reaction, and make sure I wasn't completely losing it.
He stood up and walked over to the window. He seemed to stay there for a long time, gazing outwards, at what, I couldn't tell.
Well, if he didn't want to tell me what the hell was going on, fine. I guess I'd have to find out on my own. I got out the bed. Glancing down I saw I wasn't wearing my clothes. I was dressed in a black polo neck and dark jeans. I saw boots on the floor by the bed, my size. Someone had prepared for me.
I caught sight of myself in a mirror. I had changed. The difference was quite noticeable. My skin, normally quite pale, was now milky white, my features exquisite and delicate. My hair was shinier, beautiful, like the other woman's had been, the blue streaks were clearer. I looked much, much prettier.
I wondered how I was going to explain this to everyone else. They were all probably wondering where I'd gotten myself too.
I didn't say a word as I turned towards the door.
"Seraphin - wait," the guy called. "There are things you need to know - "
I turned and gave him by best glare. Which to a werewolf was probably about as scary as a fluffy bunny with boo painted on its nose. But I didn't care right then. I turned and walked away, leaving him staring after me.
Something was telling me I was going to be seeing him again in the very near future.
* * *
Slowly, I made my way out of the building. I made my way down a dark and dusty corridor. There were no lights that I could see, and close doors like eyes looked blankly back at me as I passed, trying not to shudder.
I spied a staircase and hurried down it. I could see figures downstairs, dark figures, moving amongst the shadows. I wasn't sure why I could suddenly see well in the dark. The hell with it, I wasn't concerned about that now. All I wanted was to get out of here and get home.
The people in the room turned and saw me, and conversation hushed. The room was deathly silent, like the grave. I looked at them, and they looked back at me. One thing I noticed about them, they were all absolutely stunning, physically perfect.
A physically perfect pack of werewolves? What the hell was going on here? And why did I get thrown into the deep end?
When I moved forward, they parted to let me through. The same woman who'd been there when I'd woken was sitting in some sort of fancy, high backed, carved wooden chair. She didn't look too pleased to see me.
"What is your problem?" I said finally, annoyed. "It's not like I asked for any of this."
The woman looked utterly shocked. If the situation hadn't been so serious, the look on her face would have been funny. Everyone else looked shocked too. I guessed this woman was important amongst these people, and nobody talked to her the way I just had.
"I just want to get out of here," I said finally, tiredly, as if talking to a six-year-old.
The woman stood, and moved in my direction, people got out her way.
She took my arm and guided me out the room, and out the house. Her grasp was steel strong, and her fingers felt ice cold, even through the top I was wearing. When we reached the door of the house, she didn't let go, she just looked at me for a long time.
"You're in over your head, girl."
Just what I was thinking.
* * *
I looked at the woman. I sighed, "Look, I'm sorry if I offended you, I realise you're obviously someone important I just don't know what's going on."
Her eyebrows raised. "I thought Blaine was supposed to explain things to you."
"I wouldn't listen," I admitted. "I got pissed and stormed off."
The woman sighed. "He's an idiot. I've warned him about this countless times. Maybe he just feels left out since he's the youngest of the clan and doesn't have a partner like the rest." She let go of my arm before continuing. "My name is Isabella. I am the leader of the pack. As soon as the full moon rises you will change and feed. You change at every full moon, three times a month. Silver bullets, knives will harm you. We meet here once every two months or so. The next meeting is a week Sunday. You will be expected to attend, if you're not there, we'll come and get you."
I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say. "Is there any way out of this?" I asked.
"Not as far as I know. There are advantages." Isabella's lip curled. "We are immortal. We are stronger than humans, are senses are expanded, we're faster, and nothing else except silver and fire will hurt us." She didn't bother saying good-bye, or directing me as to where to go from here.
Charming, I thought. I glanced up at the sky. Dull grey clouds blanketed the sky, and the smell of rain hung in the air. There would be a storm soon, I could almost hear the crackle of lightning getting ready to strike.
The trees were tall, leafless, stretching up like skeletons pointing to the empty sky. Everything seemed close fitting and tightly packed in, and I was still lost. I could wander around here for days and never get out.
I glanced back at the house I had just been in. Large and spooky in the eerie lighting, it stood there, seeming deserted. If anyone passed now, they would think the house was deserted. Of course, who would ever believe there was a pack of werewolves living there?
I was still finding it hard to believe myself. It looked like I had no choice but to deal with this. There was a road in front of the house, leading into the woods. I guessed my best bet would be following it.
* * *
I trudged down the deserted road for what I guessed seemed like two hours. As I walked endlessly, the sky grew darker and the woods grew colder. It looked as if I was going to be spending another night here. God, no, anything but that,. I didn't want to be alone, out here in the pitch-blackness that had been there the other night.
I could see a faint twinkling in the sky. The clouds had cleared, and an expanse of midnight blue had been revealed overhead. The moon would be up soon. Full as well.
Would I really change? Shift into a...wolf? It seemed impossible, and I was dreading to think would it would be like. What did werewolves have to eat to survive anyway? Vampires had to drink blood. I knew that from my obsession with the supernatural. Werewolves had never been my favourite shapeshifters to focus on, vampires had always been my personal obsession. Don't ask my why, I have no idea. The idea of being young and beautiful and living forever had always seemed enticing, to belong to worlds of darkness and shadows and power...
And here's the ironic thing...I was really a part of that world now, not as a vampire, but as a...werewolf. I was still finding it so hard to believe. To be completely honest, I still didn't believe it. It felt as if this was just one really bad nightmare. I'd wake up soon, and laugh at myself for ever thinking such insane things could ever happen.
I heard something. A shout. It sounded like a voice. I could see red and blue revolving lights through the dimness and the trees. I could see beams of white lights shining, flashlights, and people were calling out. Calling my name, shouting to each other.
Police officers. I started running towards them, shouting. But as I ran, I saw something that made me freeze. For some reason, I glanced up at the sky, as if raising my head to the heavens and giving thanks that I was safe, and I saw the moon was up, round and glowing and full.
And something was happening to me. I could feel my muscles and skin rippling, and it hurt. I fell to my knees, stretching myself out, anything to relieve myself of this agony. I looked at my hands, spread out on the dirt floor around me. My they were changing, I held my arms up in front of my face, staring with horror. The black clothing was changing to fur...black fur was spreading over my body, and my hands were no longer hands but paws...my legs had shrunk considerably, my body was now that of an animal, and I could feel my face changing now. I opened my mouth and screamed...but it wasn't a scream...it was a howl.
I wasn't Seraphin the person anymore.
I was Seraphin the wolf.
* * *
I could smell the reek of human flesh coming closer now. A voice was shouting.
"Hey! Hear something over here...oh shit. You guys get here now!" The police officer shone his flashlight in my eyes. I snarled at him, angry.
He remained where he was standing, frozen. Before anyone else could get there, I leaped at him, slashing out with my claws, tearing his face open. There was something inside him that I needed more than he did. Internal organs, I remembered, from the books I'd read.
I sat on top of the officer, my paws scrambling around inside his gut, making a wonderful mess as I dug my muzzle in and just ate whatever organs I could find. It would have to do for now. Until something suddenly hit me in the hind leg, causing a blinding flash of pain and I howled again with rage, truing and springing, knocking the gun out the police officer's hand.
Before I could do anything about it, something even more bizarre seemed to happen. There was another wolf there defending me. And all I could think as these strange things were going on, was that Isabella was right. I was in way over my head.
~Come on, let's get out of here~. Blaine's voice In my head. ~Just follow me and I'll get you out of here.~ The wolf turned and looked at me, glowing yellow eyes meeting mine. ~Trust me, please~, he said.
I decided I really had no choice. I followed him into the thickness of the woods. It seemed he was leading me deeper into them than out, and I could see more blue figures and string white lights enter the clearing where we'd just been. I heard the exclamations of shock and horror.
I realised we must be going to long way round to get out of this. I didn't want to know how the police would react to idea of two werewolves walking right to the middle of the scene. Finally, the wolf leading me stood up on its hind leg, and with a rippling movement, became Blaine.
I was unsure what to do. I just followed him, standing as he had done, thinking I want to be a person again. The movements of my skin rippling, scraping across the bones, so painful, it hurt so much...
But then, the pain faded, and I realised I was me again. I ran my hands over my body, and realised I was a solid human shape anymore. I may have a human shape, and it was then it struck me, that no matter how human I appeared to be, I just wasn't. I was a werewolf. It was all real, and it was all true, and it was really happening to me.
I fell to my knees, and began to sob. Blaine came and knelt beside, sliding an arm around my shoulders. I just let him hold m, gratefully accepting the comfort. Nothing had ever felt so warm. For some reason I couldn't seem to describe, I felt safe with him, I knew I could trust him. He hadn't meant to hurt me.
"Let's get you out of here," he said softly. He led me a few paces forwards, out of the trees, and into a small clearing, full of police officers and towns people, obviously coming to look for me.
My mind was still somewhat of a blur, and I wasn't really sure what happened for the next few hours, just letting other people guide me and look after me. I guess I must have been in some sort of shock. Well, after what I'd been through, who wouldn't be?
Blaine did a lot of the talking, and somehow, he managed to make everyone believe him, and everyone was grateful to him for saving me.
At long last, I was home, home and safe and warm in my own bed, what I'd been longing for for the past...who knew how long? I was asleep the minute my head hit the pillow. If I dreamed, I didn't remember anything when I woke.
* * *
Werewolves were not real. They were stories. Myths. Legends. Next we'd get Big Foot coming in.
"Okay," I said slowly.
He smiled a little. "You don't believe me." It wasn't a question.
I groaned again. I didn't know how to describe the feeling inside me. It was a
gnawing in my stomach, like hunger, but something much, much stronger. I wanted something to eat, but I wasn't sure what. Somehow, I knew that ordinary food and drink would do nothing for me. I wasn't sure how I knew this, I just...knew it.
"So, you're a werewolf," I said finally. What else could I say? I could actually think of plenty of things, but when there was a werewolf in the room with you, it probably wasn't wise to say the things I was thinking. But then again...I wondered if maybe I should, then I could see the reaction, and make sure I wasn't completely losing it.
He stood up and walked over to the window. He seemed to stay there for a long time, gazing outwards, at what, I couldn't tell.
Well, if he didn't want to tell me what the hell was going on, fine. I guess I'd have to find out on my own. I got out the bed. Glancing down I saw I wasn't wearing my clothes. I was dressed in a black polo neck and dark jeans. I saw boots on the floor by the bed, my size. Someone had prepared for me.
I caught sight of myself in a mirror. I had changed. The difference was quite noticeable. My skin, normally quite pale, was now milky white, my features exquisite and delicate. My hair was shinier, beautiful, like the other woman's had been, the blue streaks were clearer. I looked much, much prettier.
I wondered how I was going to explain this to everyone else. They were all probably wondering where I'd gotten myself too.
I didn't say a word as I turned towards the door.
"Seraphin - wait," the guy called. "There are things you need to know - "
I turned and gave him by best glare. Which to a werewolf was probably about as scary as a fluffy bunny with boo painted on its nose. But I didn't care right then. I turned and walked away, leaving him staring after me.
Something was telling me I was going to be seeing him again in the very near future.
* * *
Slowly, I made my way out of the building. I made my way down a dark and dusty corridor. There were no lights that I could see, and close doors like eyes looked blankly back at me as I passed, trying not to shudder.
I spied a staircase and hurried down it. I could see figures downstairs, dark figures, moving amongst the shadows. I wasn't sure why I could suddenly see well in the dark. The hell with it, I wasn't concerned about that now. All I wanted was to get out of here and get home.
The people in the room turned and saw me, and conversation hushed. The room was deathly silent, like the grave. I looked at them, and they looked back at me. One thing I noticed about them, they were all absolutely stunning, physically perfect.
A physically perfect pack of werewolves? What the hell was going on here? And why did I get thrown into the deep end?
When I moved forward, they parted to let me through. The same woman who'd been there when I'd woken was sitting in some sort of fancy, high backed, carved wooden chair. She didn't look too pleased to see me.
"What is your problem?" I said finally, annoyed. "It's not like I asked for any of this."
The woman looked utterly shocked. If the situation hadn't been so serious, the look on her face would have been funny. Everyone else looked shocked too. I guessed this woman was important amongst these people, and nobody talked to her the way I just had.
"I just want to get out of here," I said finally, tiredly, as if talking to a six-year-old.
The woman stood, and moved in my direction, people got out her way.
She took my arm and guided me out the room, and out the house. Her grasp was steel strong, and her fingers felt ice cold, even through the top I was wearing. When we reached the door of the house, she didn't let go, she just looked at me for a long time.
"You're in over your head, girl."
Just what I was thinking.
* * *
I looked at the woman. I sighed, "Look, I'm sorry if I offended you, I realise you're obviously someone important I just don't know what's going on."
Her eyebrows raised. "I thought Blaine was supposed to explain things to you."
"I wouldn't listen," I admitted. "I got pissed and stormed off."
The woman sighed. "He's an idiot. I've warned him about this countless times. Maybe he just feels left out since he's the youngest of the clan and doesn't have a partner like the rest." She let go of my arm before continuing. "My name is Isabella. I am the leader of the pack. As soon as the full moon rises you will change and feed. You change at every full moon, three times a month. Silver bullets, knives will harm you. We meet here once every two months or so. The next meeting is a week Sunday. You will be expected to attend, if you're not there, we'll come and get you."
I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say. "Is there any way out of this?" I asked.
"Not as far as I know. There are advantages." Isabella's lip curled. "We are immortal. We are stronger than humans, are senses are expanded, we're faster, and nothing else except silver and fire will hurt us." She didn't bother saying good-bye, or directing me as to where to go from here.
Charming, I thought. I glanced up at the sky. Dull grey clouds blanketed the sky, and the smell of rain hung in the air. There would be a storm soon, I could almost hear the crackle of lightning getting ready to strike.
The trees were tall, leafless, stretching up like skeletons pointing to the empty sky. Everything seemed close fitting and tightly packed in, and I was still lost. I could wander around here for days and never get out.
I glanced back at the house I had just been in. Large and spooky in the eerie lighting, it stood there, seeming deserted. If anyone passed now, they would think the house was deserted. Of course, who would ever believe there was a pack of werewolves living there?
I was still finding it hard to believe myself. It looked like I had no choice but to deal with this. There was a road in front of the house, leading into the woods. I guessed my best bet would be following it.
* * *
I trudged down the deserted road for what I guessed seemed like two hours. As I walked endlessly, the sky grew darker and the woods grew colder. It looked as if I was going to be spending another night here. God, no, anything but that,. I didn't want to be alone, out here in the pitch-blackness that had been there the other night.
I could see a faint twinkling in the sky. The clouds had cleared, and an expanse of midnight blue had been revealed overhead. The moon would be up soon. Full as well.
Would I really change? Shift into a...wolf? It seemed impossible, and I was dreading to think would it would be like. What did werewolves have to eat to survive anyway? Vampires had to drink blood. I knew that from my obsession with the supernatural. Werewolves had never been my favourite shapeshifters to focus on, vampires had always been my personal obsession. Don't ask my why, I have no idea. The idea of being young and beautiful and living forever had always seemed enticing, to belong to worlds of darkness and shadows and power...
And here's the ironic thing...I was really a part of that world now, not as a vampire, but as a...werewolf. I was still finding it so hard to believe. To be completely honest, I still didn't believe it. It felt as if this was just one really bad nightmare. I'd wake up soon, and laugh at myself for ever thinking such insane things could ever happen.
I heard something. A shout. It sounded like a voice. I could see red and blue revolving lights through the dimness and the trees. I could see beams of white lights shining, flashlights, and people were calling out. Calling my name, shouting to each other.
Police officers. I started running towards them, shouting. But as I ran, I saw something that made me freeze. For some reason, I glanced up at the sky, as if raising my head to the heavens and giving thanks that I was safe, and I saw the moon was up, round and glowing and full.
And something was happening to me. I could feel my muscles and skin rippling, and it hurt. I fell to my knees, stretching myself out, anything to relieve myself of this agony. I looked at my hands, spread out on the dirt floor around me. My they were changing, I held my arms up in front of my face, staring with horror. The black clothing was changing to fur...black fur was spreading over my body, and my hands were no longer hands but paws...my legs had shrunk considerably, my body was now that of an animal, and I could feel my face changing now. I opened my mouth and screamed...but it wasn't a scream...it was a howl.
I wasn't Seraphin the person anymore.
I was Seraphin the wolf.
* * *
I could smell the reek of human flesh coming closer now. A voice was shouting.
"Hey! Hear something over here...oh shit. You guys get here now!" The police officer shone his flashlight in my eyes. I snarled at him, angry.
He remained where he was standing, frozen. Before anyone else could get there, I leaped at him, slashing out with my claws, tearing his face open. There was something inside him that I needed more than he did. Internal organs, I remembered, from the books I'd read.
I sat on top of the officer, my paws scrambling around inside his gut, making a wonderful mess as I dug my muzzle in and just ate whatever organs I could find. It would have to do for now. Until something suddenly hit me in the hind leg, causing a blinding flash of pain and I howled again with rage, truing and springing, knocking the gun out the police officer's hand.
Before I could do anything about it, something even more bizarre seemed to happen. There was another wolf there defending me. And all I could think as these strange things were going on, was that Isabella was right. I was in way over my head.
~Come on, let's get out of here~. Blaine's voice In my head. ~Just follow me and I'll get you out of here.~ The wolf turned and looked at me, glowing yellow eyes meeting mine. ~Trust me, please~, he said.
I decided I really had no choice. I followed him into the thickness of the woods. It seemed he was leading me deeper into them than out, and I could see more blue figures and string white lights enter the clearing where we'd just been. I heard the exclamations of shock and horror.
I realised we must be going to long way round to get out of this. I didn't want to know how the police would react to idea of two werewolves walking right to the middle of the scene. Finally, the wolf leading me stood up on its hind leg, and with a rippling movement, became Blaine.
I was unsure what to do. I just followed him, standing as he had done, thinking I want to be a person again. The movements of my skin rippling, scraping across the bones, so painful, it hurt so much...
But then, the pain faded, and I realised I was me again. I ran my hands over my body, and realised I was a solid human shape anymore. I may have a human shape, and it was then it struck me, that no matter how human I appeared to be, I just wasn't. I was a werewolf. It was all real, and it was all true, and it was really happening to me.
I fell to my knees, and began to sob. Blaine came and knelt beside, sliding an arm around my shoulders. I just let him hold m, gratefully accepting the comfort. Nothing had ever felt so warm. For some reason I couldn't seem to describe, I felt safe with him, I knew I could trust him. He hadn't meant to hurt me.
"Let's get you out of here," he said softly. He led me a few paces forwards, out of the trees, and into a small clearing, full of police officers and towns people, obviously coming to look for me.
My mind was still somewhat of a blur, and I wasn't really sure what happened for the next few hours, just letting other people guide me and look after me. I guess I must have been in some sort of shock. Well, after what I'd been through, who wouldn't be?
Blaine did a lot of the talking, and somehow, he managed to make everyone believe him, and everyone was grateful to him for saving me.
At long last, I was home, home and safe and warm in my own bed, what I'd been longing for for the past...who knew how long? I was asleep the minute my head hit the pillow. If I dreamed, I didn't remember anything when I woke.
* * *
