As you, my readers, may have noticed, I've taken a lot of liberties with Lujanne. And now I'm about to take that up to 11. One thing I found TDP lacking is how linear the heroes vs villains ride goes. We have Viren and Aaravos, as villains, and the Fellowship of the Egg, the heroes, going on a straight line with their objectives. In this, I'm adding a third party whose objectives, while not exactly conflicting with the heroes' or villains' goals, do collide with them.
Lujanne stood in front of a full length mirror. Its surface reflected not herself but a series of obscured faces, all with elven features with expressions of disbelief or perplexity.
"Unbelievable!"
"That is impossible."
"Lujanne, you better not have called up to show off another one of your fanfics!" one even accused her.
"I only did that once, little brother." the moon mage retorted feeling offended. "And I'll have you know that story was my best work."
The accuser scoffed. "The romance was too rushed and I detected at least five plot holes."
"Enough!" one, older looking elf ordered. "Let us stay on the matter at hand! Lujanne, are you absolutely certain of what you just told us?"
She answered affirmatively. Previously, she had called her secret associates through her transition mirror and reported recent events. Such as the arrival of the werewolf human prince with the lost egg of the Dragon Prince. And then another human boy, a vampire, who was the half-brother of the werewolf. The part which most had trouble believing was that the humans became like that due to a curse casted by the dying Dragon King.
"Lujanne, I don't doubt your word but it sounds ludicrous. Most of all, that cretin Avizandum would be willing or even able to magically create a werewolf, not to mention a vampire. We all know how much dragons feared and hated vampires. And they don't love us any more than they do vampires."
"I have to admit, I'm skeptical about that part, as well." Lujanne agreed. "While it's not too far-fetched that humans could become werewolves or vampires through the means of a powerful magical infusion, I find it impossible to believe Avizandum would even be capable of doing it, whether on purpose or not.
"Nevertheless, this is a breakthrough we can use to put our plans into motion."
"Plans, Lujanne? Since when have we had any plans? We're all splintered outcasts for the same motive, trying to survive." a younger elf retorted.
Lujanne countered. "Yes, but now we have a shot to change that."
"Very well. Divulge your plan, young sister." the elder from before requested.
"I have been teaching young Ezran to control his 'curse' as a means to earn his trust. To convince him he may be able to control himself when transformed if he learns the moon arcanum."
"A human with an arcanum? You keep spouting ridiculous things, today."
"Well, this human has a connection to the moon. However, it seems chaotic or forced. Like whatever forced him to become a werewolf installed an arcanum that he doesn't understand and therefore can't use properly. That is my theory, at least."
"Alright, but how do you intend to execute this plan with two humans turned freaks?"
Lujanne divulged her idea in detail. Then came the part that involved the other cursed prince. "The vampire boy, Callum, will play the opposite role in the plan."
"A potentially dangerous role for us, if he goes off-script, Lujanne."
"The vampire is just a human child, my siblings. He is no Dracula. He doesn't have to be strong or dangerous. We only have to make him appear a bigger menace than he truly is to Xadia."
"That plan has a major flaw. It all hinges on what these princes will do next. What if the werewolf travels to Xadia, or the vampire remains on the human side, completely unknown to Xadia? You plan dead-ends there, unless the werewolf stays with you and the vampire goes to Xadia."
Lujanne hesitated. "Leave that to me. The most important factor is that the werewolf prince remains on the human side. And even if they both go against our wishes, there is an alternative. You see, on the night they arrived, Ezran suffered a stress-induced transformation, and bit a little human girl. Of course, I didn't tell any of them what that entails."
Now her associates were more invested. As long as they had a human turned werewolf they could control, on the human side of the border, the plan could move on.
Then, one of them countered. "This idea is too complicated and hinges on too many variables. Why don't you just take the egg of the Dragon Prince and come to us? We can use it as ransom…or better, revenge."
"Are you daft?! That would only draw Zubeia's anger upon us."
"Oh, please. My contacts tell me that worthless reptile is dying of depression. Maybe we should just prevent the egg from reaching Xadia and let nature take its course. With the dragon monarchy gone, there will be no one to stop us from restoring our legacy."
"Most of Xadia would never accept us back, like that. They have all been fed those lies by the dragon monarchy for generations." the elder sighed. "Besides, dragonkind would just select another king and new lineage. Probably that traditionalist, Rex Igneous, who would just continue to brand us outcasts. No, Lujanne's plan, as doubtful it sounds, is our best gamble."
The moon mage felt truly confident for the first time. "In the meantime, I will motivate the princes to go the ways we need them to."
"How exactly will you do that? Are you going to talk them into it?"
"Leave that to me. Reality may be unbendable, but perception is like a straw." Lujanne stated rather ominously.
"A straw? What?"
"Because straws bend, you see? Like reality can't be bent, but if perception is like a straw, then it can be easily bent." the need for explanation completely ruined the mood, though. "Just leave the humans to me. One way or another, I will get them to follow the plan." she lifted a closed fist, making it resemble the pawprint of a canine. "May the moon howl with you! Remember Lupin, the Martyr!"
"May the moon howl with us all! Remember Lupin, the Martyr!" the elves chanted the sacred oath and their faces disappeared from the mirror, which now reflected Lujanne herself. She proceeded to draw runes upon the reflective surface. The mirror now showed a quaint office-like room with a fireplace, shelves filled with books and tomes and a desk. A lone figure sat by the fire in an armchair. Immediately, the occupant knew he was being watched and got up from the chair to meet her.
"Why, hello again, my dear customer. What can I do for you, today?"
"I require something only you know how to craft, Alucard."
"Ez, please…"
But the young prince refused to even acknowledge his brother's plea. Upon overhearing from Callum and Rayla what had become of his father, his first instinct was to believe it was all a bad joke. Except it wasn't, because they would never joke about his dad being dead. His next response was denial and then fury. They both knew. Callum because he was at the castle when it happened. Rayla, because her second ribbon fell off the moment his father died. Without another word, he had turned back and walked away, too angry to want to see them or hear them.
"Ezran, I'm sorry…I wanted to tell you after the frozen lake, but…" Rayla trailed off, unable to find a viable excuse.
"But, what? You didn't know how?!" Ezran then snapped at his brother. "And you, Callum, when were you going to tell me? After you and I returned to the castle? Did you keep tight-lipped about it so you could sway me to go back?"
Callum was hurt by the accusation. "No! How can you say that? I didn't tell you because…I really didn't know how to tell you. I'm so sorry."
Ezran growled in a way no boy his age could and turned back. "I'm going for a walk. Don't follow me."
"Ez, please…"
"Since dad is gone, that means I'm king. So when I tell you not to follow me, you obey." he said without turning to them. But Callum grabbed him by the shoulder but Ezran slapped his hand away and turned furious to them. With his elongated teeth and silver fur growing all over.
"I said lEaVe Me AlOnE!"
Callum cried out and Rayla gasped as their friend and brother turned into a werewolf, right in the middle of the day. Ezran, now a silver werewolf snarled at them.
"Ezran, get a grip!" Callum shouted. "Did he take the elixir?"
"Uh, no, I'm guessing." Rayla shrugged. Indeed, Ezran was nothing like the wary but tame humanoid wolf he had been that night at the castle. He snarled. Saliva leaked from his maw. He moved in a circle around them, stalking for an opening to attack.
Rayla produced her blades and tried to look intimidating. She really didn't want to fight him, mindless wolf beast or not. Hopefully, she could intimidate him. But apparently, Ezran didn't buy it and continued to approach, slow but menacing.
"This can't get much worse."
"Hey guys! I heard some weird sounds around here and I figured I should definitely go check it out…HOLLY POO-" the universe liked to prove Callum wrong as Soren chose that moment to make a chilled entrance. Ezran immediately recognized the unprepared Soren as the easiest target and lunged at him. The crownguard's trained reflexes saved him,as he drew his sword in time to block Ezran's attempt to bite his throat out. The werewolf's jaws ended up closing on the blade rather than the neck.
"Soren!" Claudia had appeared right after him and chanted. "Ti dnib leets gnirehtils!"
Those snake bracelets of hers grew and slithered on their own towards Ezran. They wrapped around his trashing form like chains, allowing Soren to kick him off of him.
"What the heck?! Is that the crown twerp?"
"What happened? How can he transform without a full moon?" Claudia asked, her eyes having returned to normal after the spell.
Callum hesitated. He hadn't told his friends about the development of the Lupin Curse. And right now wasn't the time. "I'll explain lat…"
Ezran snarled, his struggling increased. He was able to bite one of the snake chains and ripped it off with those jaws. The other one, he tore with his muscle strength. The foursome looked in dread as the werewolf stood back on its feet. It gave each one a quick, ferocious look and deemed each one too costly to be a victim. Ezran quickly turned back and broke into a run into the wilderness out of the Moon Nexus.
"Ezran!" Callum cried out. "We have to go after him!"
"While he's like that? No way! He almost chewed my face off."
"We have no choice. If he reaches the village down there, who knows what damage he can do." Rayla voiced.
"I don't understand. Why was he a werewolf when the sun hasn't even set." Claudia pointed at the afternoon sun to make her point. That forced Callum to swiftly come clean with what Ezran disclosed about his curse, last night.
"What do you mean, he hasn't been drinking the Wolf's Bane elixir? My father brewed those to treat him!" Claudia was outraged.
Callum shrugged. "According to the local elf lady, those were just delaying the curse and would soon lose their effect on him."
Claudia groaned. "And he trusted the word of an elf over my father's recommendation?!"
"Uh, hello, elf right here." Rayla raised her head, deadpanned.
"That's enough, both of you!" Callum's patience was wearing thin. "We have to go after him."
"Last time this happened, Lujanne showed up and calmed him down." Rayla recalled.
"Oh, sure trust the same elf who swayed him into dropping the elixirs." Claudia muttered. "I have some experimental spells that can immobilize a werewolf."
"Fine, we'll do both. Claudia, go prepare those spells. I'm going to talk to Lujanne."
"What about us?" Soren and Rayla asked in unintended unison.
"Wait here and try to be friendly!" Callum broke off into a run to the temple at the Nexus.
Soren and Rayla glared at one another. He barked at her. She hissed in return.
Fortunately, Rayla and Soren still alive and unharmed when Callum returned to them. Rather than Lujanne, he brought back a handful of necklaces, each with the insignia of the Moon primal forged in metal.
Soren was confused on how jewelry was going to help. Callum divulged that werewolves were scared of silver, which was what the necklaces were made of. That information made Soren recall something else. Silver, his father had said, was the only stuff that hurt any vampire or werewolf.
"Let's split up in pairs. That way nobody is alone and we can cover more ground. I'll go with Claudia. Soren, you go with Rayla."
Soren turned to the prince. "So you want me to keep an eye on the elf witch and deal with her when her back is turned, right?"
"Oh, you are asking for it!"
"Alright, time out you two! New plan: I go with Rayla. You and Claudia, together."
The group splits into two pairs, each with one of Lujanne's silver medallions around their neck. The pairs followed different paths downwards the mountain. Soon enough Callum and Rayla were out of the woods and into desolated cliffs with nonetheless spectacular views. For a place called 'Cursed', Callum had to admit it was tempting to make a few drawings out of it. For another time, after his brother was found.
He turned his gaze upwards. The sun would set in about four hours. That would at least bring some relief. It felt like with each passing day the sun made him more irritated and thirstier. Speaking of which…
"Say, why do you keep your hood up, all day long? You don't seem very experienced in stalking and stealth." his companion commented. She noted she had her own hood up, but that was for the purpose of sneaking and finding Ezran. Callum, on the other hand, has had his hood on since dawn.
"The sun annoys me." that was Callum's simple reply, as he produced the flash of Fledgling's Death from his pocket and took a sip. It was about half empty by then.
"You have moonberry juice?" she asked, surprised.
"Uh, no? This is a potion that Claudia offered me. It's supposed to keep my bad cursedy mood under control." he answered with a touch of purposeful vagueness. He himself didn't know what the potion was made out of (in spite of his paranoid suspicions).
Rayla appeared to accept that as enough of an answer and returned to her vigil for Ezran. As Callum looked around, his eyes traveled to Ezran's backpack she had brought. Inside it was the object of the hour, the egg of the Dragon Prince.
"Why are you carrying that?" he asked, though he had a pretty good idea.
"Without Ezran, I am not letting it out of my sight." Bingo! Logical point. Callum would have probably done the same.
Amidst their search, someone finally appeared. It was Ellis, alone, with an awkward expression. Before they could ask her what she was doing, she beat them to it.
"Ez doesn't want to talk with anyone." when asked what she was talking about, the little girl revealed she and Ava had found the werewolf prince, who had already returned to his normal state. Physically, Ezran was fine but asked them to leave him alone. He let only Ava to keep him company and then asked her to take him somewhere else, which the wolf promptly did so, leaving Ellis behind to give the news.
Callum face-palmed, frustration kicking in again. He demanded and pleaded that Ellis told him where his brother was. She replied that even if she knew, Ez and Ava would have moved somewhere else. Rayla, on the other hand, was a lot more relaxed. If Ezran was back to normal and was with a trustworthy company such as Ava, there was no reason to worry. Callum, was of a different opinion.
"What if 'Ava' runs away with him and never see him again?!"
Ellis protested. "Ava doesn't kidnap people…well, she once kidnapped a boy's boot, but he was a jerk. So he totally deserved it."
That did little to improve the vampire prince's mood. Rayla had to admit seeing him freaking out like that was a tad entertaining. "What a dork! An adorable dork…an adorkable."
"Let's split up, Sor-bear. I need to go check something out." Soren said in a poor imitation of his sister's voice. Earlier, Claudia insisted she needed to go somewhere else and pretty much ditched him, alone to find the crown runt turned wolf.
He got to a clearing where the afternoon sun shone without obstacles. In the middle was a large boulder partly covered in weeds. A soft sound came from behind it, which prompted him to cautiously investigate.
To Soren's surprise, there was his target, Prince Ezran, returned to normal and crying softly, hands covering eyes. That was not what the swordsman expected to find, but whiners can't be choosers, or something along those lines.
"Uh, Prince Ezran?" he approached slowly, sword unsheathed but lowered. Though he feared the little guy could go wolf all over again, at any moment, a lifetime of training prevented him from pointing a sword at royalty. "Are you okay?"
The prince was slow to recompose himself. Perhaps he just didn't care if he looked weak in front of a subordinate.
"F-fine. I'm fine." he fought back a sob and wiped his tears with a sleeve.
Soren was left without direction. He excelled at following orders, but now his 'superior' didn't seem to know what to do, himself.
Following a pause, Soren inquired. "Soooo, what happened? Are you so weepy?"
Ezran collected his strength, trying not to break down once he spoke out. "I know about my dad."
Oh.
Oh!
Uh oh…
For most of his life, Soren had been told by Claudia, dad and others that he didn't think things through and often put his foot in his mouth. This was just another example of that. Worse still, he blatantly lied to a prince, one he is sworn to obey and protect.
The prince sighed. "I messed everything up, again." That was it, no accusation, no punishment. "I was angry and frustrated that I just wanted to…to lash out at everything until…things were back to normal…dad." try as he might, he couldn't stop a new stream of tears.
Soren felt really out of his element. Back when they were kids, if Clauds felt weepy, he would: A) beat up the guy who left her crying; B) tease her until she got angry enough to break out of her sad funk. Soren didn't think either of those would work out, right now.
When Ezran's ceased sobbing, Soren felt safe enough to ask. "So, what do you wanna do?"
The prince turned to the crownguard, his expression indecipherable, and then to the sky. "I…I want to stop the war. I don't want anyone else to lose their family. But…" he shook his head. "every time I get riled up, I just turn into that thing. And I don't feel I'm any closer to control it. I only mess things up."
That struck a chord in Soren. The fear of messing things up was all too familiar. He took his sword, looked at it and exhaled. "Yeah, I feel you. To tell you the truth, I'm always afraid of messing things up, too."
Ezran looked at him, puzzled. Granted, his interactions with Soren were always minimal. But the bullheaded soldier never struck him as fearful. "Yup, I'm always afraid of failing. That's why I'm always trying to do better than my best. I try my betterest."
Ezran couldn't suppress a chuckle. "And how do you know what's the best way to do things?"
"Usually I trust my dad to tell me." oops, too late did Soren realize his mistake. Ezran went silent, and resumed his melancholic sky gazing.
"Hey, Soren, what does it feel like having a mom?"
The crownguard blinked twice, caught off-guard by that question. "I can't say much. I recall she was sweet and kind when she was with Clauds and I, but always argued with dad. My parents separated when I was a little bigger than you. They told us to choose." he paused. "I stayed with dad because he's so smart and he's always willing to help his kingdom. That was the kind of man I wanted to be when I grew up."
That was not the answer Ezran expected, at all. He had asked about Soren's mother on a whim, because he always wondered what it felt like to have one. Yet, the crownguard went off course and moved to his parents' divorce.
Still…to do what felt right.
"Thanks, Soren. I think I'm ready to go back." without another word, the prince got up and turned back up to the Nexus. As Soren got up, he felt the silver stake on his back clinking softly against his armor.
Callum's freaking out dimmed gradually until he was persuaded to return to the Nexus and wait for Ezran there.
The walk back up was a peaceful if dull one. Having already met Rayla, Ellis put an inquisition of question to Callum, including if he could turn into a wolf-boy, too. Callum shook his head, giving her a watered-down explanation of his own curse. Rayla listened from the sidelines, driving her attention to his appearance. It just occurred to her this prince was a bit pale for a human. Granted, not as pale as herself was, but he was getting there. His ears had tiny pointed tips, though they looked mostly human, still. His eyes, on the other hand, were a blend of dark green and red. Now that did stand out. According to the prince himself, his appearance was changing due to his curse. Similar to how Ezran's feeding habits and hair color were being altered.
Upon reaching the Nexus, Ellis elected to go somewhere else while the two teens waited, sitting at a table. The wait was silent, as they had nothing worthwhile talking about. Callum did notice Rayla still carried the egg around. That drove him back to the debate on what he would do once Ezran was back.
Truth be told, the egg was still a minor priority to him. And yet, having learnt what Ezran had been through and what he had done, having met Rayla…opinions have started to change. A week ago, he had cared solely on finding his brother and the egg could jump off a cliff. Now, he realized that everyone's future, Ezran's and his own included, could depend on the outcome of that dragon's egg.
If he were to take the egg back to the Castle, it would probably motivate Xadia to take drastic actions to get it back.
If he gave it to aunt Amaya, she would return it to Xadia, as long as they fulfilled concessions. But would they, if his aunt's terms were too outrageous? Furthermore, it would only aggravate them having to pay a ransom for a baby that was stolen from them.
A baby?! Callum just then realized he had thought of the egg as a baby. A baby of a mother, who had lost her husband and her unborn child on the same day. The same day that Ezran and he were cursed by the Dragon King.
In the distance, unbeknownst to the pair, they were being observed by Claudia. Her eyes wandered from Callum, to the elf, to the egg on her back. All afternoon, she had noticed Callum had gotten close to the elf. Too close for comfort, but she could see what was really going on.
"Smart move, Callum. Gain that elf girl's trust so we can retrieve the egg when she least expects it."
When Ezran returned to the group, Callum apologized profoundly, followed suit by Rayla. Ezran countered there was no need to apologize, but there was something he needed to say.
"I've been thinking about something dad once told us. That part of growing up involves doing things you're not ready for. But we have to face those things because somebody has to do it."
Callum tried to make light of the situation. "Now that you're king, are you going to start saying wise stuff like that?" the sullen look Ezran gave him said it wasn't a good time for humor.
"When I began traveling with Rayla, I was so carefree because I thought he could handle anything. He always looked so strong and wise."
He paused and gave a sad look to Rayla. "But he's not here anymore. And I can't just go gallivanting to Xadia knowing my people need me. I'm sorry Rayla and Zym, but I can't go with you. I want to, but I can't."
She kneeled to his level and put her hands on his shoulders. "I understand, Ez. I think you're doing the right thing by going back. Plus, maybe you can do more to prevent the war from the throne."
Callum sighed. He wanted to say to himself 'mission accomplished'. But one quick look at the egg still on Rayla's back told him it wasn't. After everything he saw and heard, the path he himself wanted to take was also clear.
"Don't worry, Ez. Zym will get back to his mother. I'll make sure of that."
Everyone else turned to him with confusion or surprise. He explained himself. "It has to be a human to deliver the egg back to the Dragon Queen. I'll go with Rayla to Xadia in your stead."
Ezran's surprise broke into a smile, while Rayla curled an eyebrow. She approached Callum with an inquisitive frown. "So you want to join in? What happened to 'the egg is hypnotizing his brain'?"
Callum felt embarrassed, recalling he did say such nonsense on that fateful night in Viren's secret laboratory. "Uh, yeah. I wasn't thinking right. But Ezran and you changed my mind."
Rayla was smirking by then, clearly teasing the older prince. And Ezran joined in. "Or maybe Azymondias is hypnotizing you, now." The elf and little king chuckled at the older prince's expense.
On the sidelines, Soren was about to voice something, but Claudia beat him to it. "That is a great idea, Callum!"
The other three were startled by that, almost having forgotten the siblings were present. "You think so, Claudia?"
She nodded. "I do. I see now it's important that the egg returns to Xadia. So, Soren and I will escort Ezran back to Katolis."
Soren looked between his sister and the princes, looking more puzzled by the moment. He would have said something, but Claudia made him a gesture to keep quiet. While Callum and Ezran were grateful for their friends' comprehension, Rayla glared suspiciously at them.
The group prepared to depart and split, paying their farewells to Lujanne, who looked rather pleased when she heard where each of the princes would travel to. She promised she would give their best wishes to Ellis and Ava, who were nowhere to be found. On their way down the large group would split into two, before reaching the village to avoid another deranged mob pursuing them.
The mood was mostly quiet but mixed, Callum could tell. Rayla kept her focus on the two tallest members of the party. Meanwhile, Claudia occasionally stole glances at the elf. And Soren kept moving his hands over his waist, dangerously close to the hilt of his sword.
He approached Rayla and whispered. "Hey, is everything alright?"
She whispered back. "No. I don't trust those two. They're up to something."
"I've known them for years. I trust them."
Rayla turned to face him and would have said something else.
"Reh dnib leets gnirehtils!"
Two serpents of metal came slithering and wrapped themselves around Rayla, immobilizing her completely.
"I've got her! Good job distracting her Callum." said Claudia, her hand extended and eyes pitch black.
"Claudia, what are you doing?" Callum shouted.
"The plan, of course. Now, Ezran, bring the egg over here." she said naturally.
Ezran, whom was at the back of the party stepped back, grabbing the handles of his backpack fiercely. "Callum, what plan is she talking about?"
"The plan to rescue you and the egg. I overheard Callum talking to the elf earlier and figured he was gaining her trust to lower her defenses. And it worked."
Callum was flabbergasted. Rayla glared daggers at him. "You backstabbin' Prince Jerkface!"
"No, I wasn't in on this! I swear. Claudia, let her go."
The dark mage was confused. It was Soren who spoke out. "See, Clauds? I told you he was bitten and got moonshadow madness from the elf."
Both Claudia and Callum deadpanned at the baseless accusation. "Soren, just go get the egg."
"No! Hold it, Soren."
The crownguard looked between his sister and prince in hesitation. Then, with an annoyed sigh, he moved towards Ezran. He passed the perplexed Callum, avoiding his gaze.
Callum realized then they had no option but to fight for the egg. "Ezran, get out of here!" the younger prince didn't have to be told twice and ran back up as much as his legs and the weight of the egg allowed him.
Thinking quickly, Callum went for the bound Rayla. She gave him a suspicious look as he tried to help her break free. But the magical chains wouldn't budge. They were at Claudia's mercy and Soren would quickly catch Ezran and the egg.
However, out of view, a pebble was shot from the foliage of the forest and hit Claudia's outstretched hand. She lost her focus causing the snake chains to loosen completely. Callum helped Rayla break free. The two exchanged the briefest of trusting looks. Rayla immediately leaped away, putting herself in front of Soren. "What do you say we finish what we started, thick-skull?"
"I told you, leave my skull out of this." Soren quickly drew his blade and the two resumed their interrupted fight.
Callum confronted Claudia. "Callum, what has gotten into you?!" she was almost hysterical.
"What's gotten into me? You were about to ruin the best chance for peace we have and kidnap Ezran." he pointed an accusing finger.
"Have you lost your senses? If that egg hatches, one day it will rain death on all of humanity. Creatures from Xadia can't be trusted."
"Ezran trusts Rayla. And I learnt to trust Ezran's judgment." he wanted to berate himself for using that as an excuse. But truthfully he couldn't say he trusted Rayla, completely, yet.
Claudia is dumbfounded. "You have lost it. Has the elven blood in that potion rotten your brain?" right after those words left her mouth, she covered it with her hand in shock. Callum was confused.
"Elven blood? What are…" realization struck Callum like a thunderbolt. He fished the vial of red liquid from his pocket. The 'Fledgling's Death' potion Claudia had given him supposedly helped prevent the Draculin curse from evolving. He looked stunned at her. "Was this actual blood all along?"
She was silent, her averting her eyes was answer enough. "You tricked me into drinking someone's blood this whole time?!" Now it was Callum who was hysterical.
"C-Callum, it was for your own good." If Claudia wanted to aggravate him more, she chose the perfect combination of words.
"My own good! I feel like my curse is getting worse everyday!"
Claudia shook her head. "No, that can't be. The potion was supposed to help. My father said…"
"Viren said?! Viren never gave a thought about helping me." Callum hissed, his voice lower but no less furious. Claudia was now feeling nervous. Her dorky, lovable friend didn't look like himself anymore.
"Callum, please calm down."
"Why? Why should I be calm? I have a rIgHt tO bE uPsEt!"
And it happened. Callum's eyes became pitch black like Claudia's when she performed her dark arts. Except for the tiny red dots that passed as mockery of pupils. His fangs grew just a few more millimeters, ears sharpened in equal measure. His skin became an inhuman gray, like clouds on a rainy day.
Callum, now a mindless fledgling vampire, growled into the night sky and looked at Claudia without recognition. Only the glare of a predator that found something that resembled a prey.
His growl drew the attention of the elf and crownguard, who paused their fight.
"C-Callum?" Claudia's voice shook. Memories of a similar event months ago came back to her. Of the night her friend first transformed into a monster and came too close for confort to her.
The vampire prince hissed and…
"Callum!" Soren switched into auto-pilot when he moved towards the vampire. His training as a soldier kicked in as he had only one goal in mind: killing the enemy. His hand swiftly grabbed the weapon hidden under his cape.
His shout drew the vampire to turn around and face him. Callum made a gurgled gasp as the silver stake was driven through his chest. Right below his heart.
Stunned silence.
Soren's determined face was inches away from Callum's shocked one, which regressed to his natural state. The prince returned to himself to see his friend holding the stake that pierced his body. In a gag reflex, Callum coughed up some blood that hit Soren's face. Only then did the crownguard snapped out of auto-pilot and realized what he had done.
"CALLUM!" Claudia shrieked.
There was a blinding light above and Ezran returned riding on Phoe-Phoe. Thinking quickly, Rayla kicked Soren in the back, making him collide with Claudia. She grabbed the staggering Callum and put him on the Moon Phoenix's back.
"Callum!" Ezran shrieked in panic, seeing his brother stabbed.
"Let's fly, quickly!" Rayla urged him and he shakily did so. Phoe-Phoe took off right in the nick of time before Soren and Claudia could react. To someplace safe where they could hopefully save Callum's life.
"So, they're gone? Without saying goodbye?"
That evening, Ellis reappeared, having reunited with Ava, and was surprised to see all her new friends had left.
"Alas, they were in a hurry, little one. But they asked me to give you their best regards."
The girl sighed. That was okay. Too bad she never got to know the witch-lady and the dumb muscle knight all that well. At least, she really hoped they didn't didn't didn't forget her.
"So, what are you doing now?" Lujanne was facing the center of the moonhenge, drawing unknown runes of light in the air. At the center, what appeared to be a swarm of itny wisps of light circled around in an almost spherical shape.
"Oh, I'm just using a complex array of spells to increase the moon's primal energy output." the mage explained casually.
"Oh, okay." all of that flew over Ellis' head.
"To summarize, I'm using the power of the Nexus to simulate a full moon night. It will be as if, around the Cursed Caldera, the night will be of a full moon and…Ah! It's done." she made a final gesture and the 'swarm' solidified into a beam of light that extended upwards, appearing to reach for the waning moon phase. The dark side of the moon was filled with light from the beam, making it appear full.
"Wow, so pretty!" Ellis was delighted with the sight. It was so beautiful and warm. Warm enough to make her hot. So hot her arm felt as if it was burning. "Uh?!" she exclaimed as the burning sensation became painful all of the sudden. The pain originating from the now healed spot where Ezran had bitten her. "Ah! It hurts! Help!"
But Lujanne simply watched passionless as Ellis fell to her knees, the pain overwhelming her and spreading all over her being. Ava came running and whining, circling her human friend, but helpless to alleviate her.
Ellis cried into the night, yet her cry began to sound like a squeaky howl. Her shape expanded slightly. Hair grew all over her body. A snout erupted from her face. When the cries, now canine whines, ceased, the girl stood now as a werewolf cub, the same size as Ezran had been.
"Little cub, listen to me." Lujanne said and the new werewolf's gaze was fixed on her, as if she had been hypnotized. "You will descend into the village and bite every human you can find. Do you understand?"
The mindless werewolf that was Ellis barked. To anyone else, it would have meant nothing. But for one such as Lujanne, she knew the little one did understand.
"She is even more unbalanced than Ezran. Without any arcanum, these human werewolves are like mindless puppets." Lujanne sighed. "I hate having to use these methods, but alas, one can't change the world without making sacrifices." she produced a collar with a shard of unknown material. "The collar has a piece of a broken moon primal stone. It will keep you invisible to their eyes and ears. Remember, bite every human you can find, but make sure they survive. Don't let yourself get captured. And tomorrow morning, when you wake up, you will remember nothing of this. Now go."
And so, werewolf Ellis ran on all fours down the mountain to her hometown, where she would spread terror and pain for the whole night. Lujanne's plan was now in motion.
And, it's confirmed! Ellis is now a werewolf. Unfortunately, a wild werewolf and a pawn in whatever game Lujanne and her associates are playing. And FYI, the Alucard she communicated with is no character from any vampire franchise. This 'Alucard' is a TDP character who has the name' Alucard'.
