"Alright, class. Settle down. I know last nights events were overexciting, but we have to get out presentations done. Hercules, do you have your poem?"
Hercules was looking down playing with a piece of parchment lost in his thoughts when I came to the door. For a moment I watched him as Faducious called his name again. I leaned against the door frame.
"There's no need asking him." I said surprising everyone. I saw the looks. Some were of fear, some disgust and some were just pure shock that I would show my face after last night. The pain of knowing what was going through their minds hit me, but I forced it down to deal with later. I had a job to do and a promise to keep. "I have it right here."
I held up a scroll for Faducious to see. He nodded all to quickly and backed away. I could smell the fear on him. I came to the front of the room and turned to the class. Herc had looked up by this point and froze.
"Now, if you don't mind. I will give our presentation. I promise I won't be here long." I told Faducious to ease his mind. I cleared my throat. I didn't even unroll the parchment. There was no need. I knew the poem by heart now.
I have a hidden secret
Hidden deep down inside
When I look at you
It gets pushed aside
For you are my strength
The strength to carry on
In keeping this secret
Which I know is wrong
This is my hidden secret
Hidden deep down inside
There is a wolf within me
So dangerous, I lied
I never meant to hurt you
I had no choice to tell
It is a big part of me
There's a part of you as well
I had a hidden secret
Hidden deep down inside
The wolf is still within me
I no longer hide
I watched the faces of my friends and classmates. For one brief moment Faducious forgot his fear. He stepped forward in shock and took the parchment from me.
I looked at him for a moment and nodded. With one last long look at Herc, I left the classroom and made my way to the front gate. Chiron was standing there waiting for me.
"Before you say anything, don't worry." I said standing my ground and looking up at him. "I know what I am. I know that I'm dangerous. I just thought I could have a normal life, but I was wrong. I promise to you Chiron that I won't come back until I have mastered the wolf. Until then I will find a way. I'm sorry."
"I know you are…" Chiron said with a swish of his tail. "…but I am not the one you should apologize to."
Chiron nodded over my shoulder. I turned to see Hercules jogging toward me. Chiron moved from behind me and pranced off. This was it. I braced myself for the worst. I was caught totally off guard when Herc grabbed me and pulled me into a kiss. A tear escaped my eye. He was not going to make this easy. I couldn't hold back the tears and neither could he.
"Don't go." He begged when the kiss ended. He held my face in his hands and placed his forehead to mine.
"I have to." I said trying not to sob.
"No, please. We can work out something…" My heart wrenched. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't stay and risk his life.
"No, Herc. I lied to you. I betrayed you. I almost killed you. I am too dangerous to be around."
"I don't care! You didn't hurt me! You just attacked Strife and he disappeared. I'm a demi-god. I can keep you at bay when you wolf out. Please don't leave me. You can't leave me now." He said moving his hands down my arms and holding me tight around my waist.
"I can't take the risk that you could be hurt, Herc. This is the only way to protect those I love." I sniffled. "I have to find a way to stop it, to control it. I can't let it harm the ones I love." I moved my hands up to his face and brushed a few strands of hair from his eyes.
He was quiet for a moment while he searched my eyes. I made sure I looked determined, I hid the pain. After he had found what he was looking for he looked defeated.
"Will I ever get to see you again?"
"I don't know." I said suppressing the sob clogging my throat. Herc kissed me one last time then held me tight in a hug.
"You be careful, ya hear me?" He said giving in to me.
"I will. I promise. I meant what I said." I said holding him close. "You will always be a part of me. You will always be my strength."
If I didn't let go now I would never have the strength to leave. With one last hug I pulled away quickly. It was time to go. Herc shook his hair from his eyes and wiped away the tears. I quickly wiped mine away and regained my composure. With one last long look I turned away from him and began to walk through the gate.
"You had better come back to me or I will hunt you down!" He exclaimed to my back. I smirked and looked over my shoulder.
"You'd have to catch me first."
For the second time, I left. I almost killed my friends, my classmates, and my mentors. I almost killed Herc. I had to find a way to end this deadly chain. There had to be a way and Endevi, the real one, was my key. I had a hidden secret, hidden deep inside. There is a wolf within me that I no longer hide.
Authors Note: I just want to give a special thanks to all of you who reviewed. I am so ecstatic that you loved my story. I will tell you my secret now. My main reason for writing this story was because I wrote a poem that fit so well with an idea I was running with. The poem that you see above is not the one I had originally intended to use. This one came to me while I was at work and sounded like it fit much better than the other one. To see the original poem, look at the chapter behind this. Just in case you didn't know, Lilium Inter Spinus means Lily among the Thorns in Latin. I hope you like the ending. If you review please let me know what you think about a sequel. I am not sure that I want to do a sequel, but with enough support I may. If you have any suggestions, please tell me. Thanks.