A-Z of Melizabeth by Fullmetal Pyromaniac
S is for...
Soulmate
Ruby apologises for the wait...
Prompt suggested by AwEsOmEiZeR123 and peacerockgirl123
Also shoutout to bstarqueen and purplepie for mostly correctly guessing the universes in the last prompt!
SLIGHT TW for attempted r*pe and also some violence
Don't go into the woods, Elizabeth, don't you know about the werewolf that eats the hearts of young maidens?
Elizabeth Lyones woke up on the fateful Friday, rejuvenated and well-slept. She stretched her arms above her head and rubbed at her eyes, flicking the sleep onto the wooden boards of the tiny shack she shared with her father.
It had been a hard few years. For fifteen of those, she had lived with her adoptive family- mother, father, and her sisters Margaret, and Veronica- after she had been left on their doorstep as an infant. Life was simple, but good.
The three girls would run down out the garden to the edge of the woods, where it was separated from the village by a wide but shallow stream. Summer days were spent paddling in it, dressed in sun hats and sandals. Winter days were spent being glamorous ice skaters, with diamond-encrusted leotards made out of pyjamas and glitter.
Then disaster struck, as their mother grew violently ill, and without the funds for immediate medicine, she died. It was then that the three maidens had to grow up in the space of an hour. Margaret, the eldest, had found a suitable job as chambermaid for the prestigious Lady Merlin of Camelot. Veronica, the second eldest, had decided to take up an apprenticeship in Edinburg as a blacksmith.
The youngest, Elizabeth, was too young to work far from home and father couldn't be left for too long at a time. So she stayed in the tiny isolated village, surrounded by endless forest. She took up several jobs, as a cleaner, an assistant baker, and a delivery girl, and by the time she was nineteen Elizabeth and her father were well known and well respected in the village.
However money was still scarce, and in the winter the conditions grew treacherous, and Elizabeth's father grew ill as well. Elizabeth worked herself now to the bone to get the medicine he needed and that is where we find her that fateful day.
Putting on her usual day clothes- a winter dress, leggings, and worn out leather boots- Elizabeth went down to the stream to collect water. Back in her house, she lit the stove and began boiling the water she had collected, saving the rest for later. Grabbing tea leaves and a small jar of honey for two chipped mugs and pouring the rest into a pot and adding what little porridge they had left.
Her father was just waking up as she went into his room, his weary eyes slowly blinking, his aged face grinning with youth once he saw his daughter. Elizabeth helped him sit up in bed.
"Morning Elizabeth" he greeted softly, his crackled voice wheezing, "What's on the menu today?"
"Porridge with honey served with tea" she placed the mug on the small box they used for a bedside table, "bon appétit,"
Her father took the bowl gratefully, eating the hot porridge with caution. Elizabeth sat and watched wiping the spilled food with a white cloth.
"Are you not having any Elizabeth?" Her father asked, spoon filled. Elizabeth smiled and shook her head.
"I had some earlier" She explained, patting her empty stomach. Her father started at her intently, but seemed content by the answer and continued to eat. Elizabeth let out a silent sigh of relief, hopefully her stomach wouldn't betray her.
When her father had finished, Elizabeth took his bowl and left him to drink his tea which had cooled sufficiently.
As she cleaned, Elizabeth stared out of the window, but only her reflection looked back. She pulled her fringe away from her right eye to reveal a stunningly green iris staring back at her. She'd kept the letters sent from her distant sisters, who'd both caught the eyes (pun intended) of their soulmates.
Elizabeth's green and blue eyes were as striking as they day she first looked in the mirror, but yet she hadn't found anyone. The sun began to peek over the tops of the forest. She grabbed her cloak and basket and headed to her fathers room.
"I'm going to work now father, I'll be back at lunch. If you need anything I've asked Ms James to check up on you in about an hour. There's books there, and your tea, and your seat is under the bed." Her father laughed.
"Don't worry yourself so Elizabeth, I'll be fine. Now, good luck today"
"Thank you father, see you later!"
"Goodbye Elizabeth," he called, "and remember- stay on the path!"
*~*~S is for...~*~*
The village was small, yet homely. With a bakery, a clothes shop, a greengrocers, and the import shop. The rest of the space were filled with trees, flowers, and houses. It was a tightly knit community. Elizabeth waved to the inhabitants of the village as she made her way to the bakery. It was small and always smelled of vanilla. Elizabeth went through to the back room where the owner Miss Elaine- a short elderly woman- stood with her latest batch of cookies, freshly baked.
"Good morning Elaine," Elizabeth called sweetly, helping the older woman sort the cookies into baskets along with the fresh bread and other assorted pastries. Elaine smiled softly.
"Good morning dear, early again?" Elizabeth laughed, placing plaid cloth over the baskets.
"I like to be punctual, I get more done that way," She laughed picking up the baskets and balancing three on each arm. "I'll be back before you know it."
Elaine rolled her eyes, wiping her floury hands on her apron. Elizabeth was such a lovely girl but she always put others before herself. She had aged before her time.
"Be careful out there dear!" She shouted just as Elizabeth went out, the door. Sighing, Elaine went into the back room. It was almost opening time.
Meanwhile Elizabeth walked briskly along the paths of the village, going from house to house. The cold air turned her cheeks pink and her breath lingered in the air, the baskets at her elbows were given away one by one until the last basket remained to be given to the woodcutters family on the outskirts of town.
The journey to the woodcutters family was one that lead her over the brook and on a short journey through the woods. As long as she followed the path, the wolves wouldn't get her. On the short path leading through the woods, a snap caught Elizabeth's attention.
Snapping her head to the side, she saw a wolf staring back at her. She should have been scared, but she wasn't. The yellow eye seemed kind even from far away, the wolfs fur was an unusual jet black, and had grown unusually long in one part, obscuring its left eye. They were usually grey or even white.
Both of them stood gazing at each other for a moment, then Elizabeth forced her eyes away from the wolf and continued towards the house. When she turned back, the wolf wasn't there.
The woodcutters house was large and beautiful, carvings of Flowers and animals surrounded the windows and doors, there was a balcony that was over the front door. On the balcony was a mahogany rocking chair and a small table.
Elizabeth knocked on the door twice then waited. After a minute a small, thin woman came to the door. Hair like flaxen and face like a porcelain doll.
"Good morning Elizabeth, how are you today?"
"Well, Mrs Gowther," Elizabeth greeted, "I have your delivery here"
Mrs Gowther, the woodcutters wife, clasped her hands together and smiled.
"Wonderful, wonderful. Do come in dear, Collin doesn't like me standing by the door for too long." Elizabeth followed the woman inside the house.
Mrs Gowther got her immune system from her fathers side, he was a sickly man just like his daughter. Catching colds and infection like nobody else. The Gowther's son- Lewis, was tall like his father but weak in fighting infection like his mother. For this reason the Gowther's, particularly Lewis, were rarely seen.
Lewis Gowther was an attractive man, around Elizabeth's age, with hair like the pink early morning skies and eyes like the bluest of oceans. Round glasses framed his eyes and long black lashes. He was standing on the stairs when Elizabeth walked in, and he waved as his mother went to fetch Elizabeths pay.
"Top of the morning Elizabeth, how are you this day?"
Elizabeth smiled, "Perfectly fine Lewis, and yourself?"
"Spiffing!" he did with a wink, Elizabeth felt her heart warm up. For a sickly man he was so full of life.
Lewis came further down the stairs and stood eye to eye with Elizabeth. She stared into his eyes, both were the same colour, he had no soulmate, but it didn't seem to faze him. He took Elizabeth's hand in his own, his eyes pleading.
"Elizabeth I have something to ask of you," He said "I wish to go to the winter festival tonight, however mother and father think it will be too strenuous for me. I want to prove that I can go, and I was wondering if you would accompany me" He said, Elizabeth's eyes widened, "Just as friends," He hastily added, "Nothing more."
She nodded, "That should be alright, it'll be fun to get out the house, shall I come here about six o'clock?"
Lewis smiled, pulling her into a hug, "Thank you Elizabeth, I owe you."
"You owe me nothing." Elizabeth said, pulling back from the hug. Mrs Gowther came back with Elizabeth's pay, plus the extra for coming out so deep into the woods. Elizabeth said her goodbyes and walked back into the village, keeping an eye out for the mysterious wolf she had seen earlier. But he was nowhere to be found.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
The winter festival was held on the shortest day of the year, the village was lit up with fairy lights that hung from the gutters of houses to the stalls, connecting them together. The stalls sold all things, from cologne and perfumes to trinkets for your soulmate, food stalls were the most popular selling hot wine and hot chocolate for the children along with a selection of hot foods.
Lewis walked arm in arm with Elizabeth through the stalls, eyes wide with curiosity and his nose red from the cool night air. The pale moon shone down on them, giving the festival an almost ethereal look. Lewis and Elizabeth went to every stall, tasting everything they could, pancakes with jams and syrups from exotic lands.
Soon their fingers were sticky with sugary residue and the two friends sat on a bench watching the people go by, trying to wipe their fingers clean. Music began to play, and the people dancing laughed with joy. Elizabeth never really fancied it much, and neither did Lewis, so they people-watched.
When Lewis' hands were clean, he took a hold of Elizabeth's.
"Thank you, for tonight, I never thought I'd be this happy."
Elizabeth giggled, "I'm glad," She looked at the position of the moon, "It's getting late, I'll walk you home."
"There's really no need to..."
"Nonsense, it's my pleasure."
She took Lewis' arm and walked along with him, their breaths lingering in the night air. The bridge creaked as they crossed it, then creaked again. Elizabeth turned around to see three men standing behind her and Lewis.
"There she is," One snarled, "Get her!"
Lewis pushed Elizabeth behind him in a weak attempt to protect her, he was pushed to the ground by two of the three men, his glasses being thrown off his face and smashed under one's foot.
"R-Run...Elizabeth," He croaked out as blood dribbled down his face, "Run!"
And she did, with a promise of coming back with help, Elizabeth sprinted towards the Gowther Residence. Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest, then she fell, a heavy weight on her back. She kicked and thrashed out as the weight on her turned her over so she was lying chest up. The man above her was a villager, an older man who was well known for not finding his soulmate.
Elizabeth's limbs went numb in fear as his greasy hand pushed back her fringe and took in her soulmate's eye. His was green too, but a dark green, an evil green.
"Fuck. I'd hoped you were my soulmate," He let go of her fringe, grinning wickedly, "Oh well, I've got you now. You can't say no..."
He began to tear her clothes. Screams erupted from Elizabeth's throat as the man tore at the fabric of her winter dress, she fought and thrashed harder as her skin became exposed to the night air. She fought until one hand wound around her throat and squeezed, choking her.
This is it, this is how I'm going to die...
Black spots appeared around her vision, confirming her demise. But then the man was torn off her, his screams echoed throughout the wooded area, but Elizabeth didn't care. She slowly let air fill into her lungs, her throat sore and tight and definitely bruised. Then the screaming stopped, and Elizabeth found the strength to sit up, her mangled dress barely keeping her decent.
The man lay on the ground, his limbs mutilated and bloody, his face almost unrecognisable. What had happened to him, he used to be a lovely man, but was driven mad by the lack of soulmate. Next to him stood a black wolf, the black wolf, his fur matted with blood and teeth bared.
"You!" Elizabeth rasped, the wolf suddenly became docile, looking more like a puppy. It cocked its head.
"I met you, today, near here. Didn't I?" Her voice was croaky, but he still seemed to understand, nodding.
"You saved me," She whispered, it hurt to talk, "Thank you," The wolf nodded then turned to run off.
"Wait!" Elizabeth cried, reaching out to it. It stopped, looking at her strangely, "My friend- can you come with me to see if he's alright, please?"
The wolf nodded, and Elizabeth stumbled along the tracks as fast as she could until she reached Lewis. The two men were gone, but the wolf still kept a look out while she picked Lewis up. It followed her until she got to the entrance of the residence, then it wouldn't go any further.
"Thank you," She said, "Will...will I see you again?"
The wolf didn't make any reply, it turned on its paws and ran.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
News spread like wildfire of Elizabeth and Lewis' attack. He'd contracted pneumonia, and had been battling it for days. Mrs Gowther assured Elizabeth it was their attackers fault, not hers. He did eventually wake up, and slowly got better.
The men had been identified and their names tarnished with the brand of an attacker on their foreheads, the two that got Lewis were exiled and never seen again. The one that had tried to rape Elizabeth was cremated, no one turned up to his funeral.
The townsfolk were lovely, kind, and understanding. Elizabeth's sisters promised to return for a brief while to make sure she was alright. Her father was livid. Elaine shortened her hours for the same amount of pay so she could get home quicker to avoid any accidents. The woman at the exports shop had given her something, 'all the ladies in the capital wear it to cover blemishes', it was called 'concealer' and after a brief show of how to use it, Elizabeth began to use it on the purple hand marks around her neck.
Her mind was focused on the wolf, it was sentient, it didn't attack her but her attacker. It heard her, it responded. It was...almost human.
One day she wandered back into the woods, not allowing herself to shake at the scene of the crime. Elizabeth stood for a minute, breathing deeply, eyes closed. When she opened them, she noticed there was a small path, it was tiny and hidden under years of leaves and foliage, but a path nonetheless.
Well, she thought, I'm not technically straying from the path...
Against her better judgement, Elizabeth followed the hidden path into the woods.
The wood was thick and dense, light was barely filtered through the top layer of the trees. Strange noises came from all around, and Elizabeth pulled her shawl tighter around her arms. As the path began to get buried under leaves and foliage Elizabeth felt herself become entranced with the scenery. She'd always been one for light and sun, but there was no denying the beauty of the darkness.
As the path trailed off, Elizabeth found herself in a clearing covered in grass and brightly coloured flowers, with trees acting as a barrier to the outside world. The air seemed sweeter, more clean, and Elizabeth took big gulps of it in and sighed, raising her head to the bright blue sky and grinning, letting the suns rays wash over her pale skin.
"You shouldn't be here."
Elizabeth jumped as a low voice growled from behind her. Spinning around, she came face to face with a big black wolf, the wolf, who was glaring at her with black eyes.
"It's you!" She cried, flinging herself to her knees in front of the wolf, "It's you!"
The wolf cocked its head, "Me? You recognise me?"
Its voice appeared to come from inside it, not from its mouth. Elizabeth stared into its eyes and saw pools of the night.
"Yes, you saved me and my friend a week ago...don't you remember?"
"Ah, ah yes, I remember you." The wolfs face turned almost friendly, then hardened once more, its heckles raised and teeth bared slightly.
"You still shouldn't be here."
"Why not?" Elizabeth asked, watching as the wolf began to circle her like a vulture. The soft growling it always seemed to be doing made her hair stand on end, her heartbeat increased at her vulnerability.
"Haven't you ever heard about the young maidens whose hearts were torn out by werewolves? About the men with their necks torn to shreds by demonic claws? The children who follow the cute doggy in the woods, never to be seen again?" Elizabeth's breath hitched in her throat. "You're a lamb compared to those I've killed before. Why couldn't- why shouldn't I just kill you now?"
"Because," Elizabeth blurted as the wolf passed in front of her, her mouth working faster than her mind, "You had the chance to, when I was even more vulnerable" She wiped at the concealer on her neck revealing purple hand marks which were slowly fading away, "But you didn't. You saved me, and I'm forever thankful for that."
The wolf stopped in its tracks, eyes burning into her.
"Smart people would have run by now, but you stayed, yet I can tell you're an intelligent girl." Somehow, the wolf smiled. "I think I'll keep you around, Miss...?"
"Elizabeth, Elizabeth Lyones" She said, "And how will I refer to you?"
"My name has been lost to when I was human, only one person can say it. It must be at the right time, and by a very special person."
Elizabeth frowned. "Am I just to refer to you as Mr. Wolf? Or Mr. Werewolf?"
"Either, I am whatever you want me to be called" It- he explained. Elizabeth smiled softly, nodding her head once.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Wolf"
*~*~S is for...~*~*
"Mr Wolf!" Elizabeth cheered as she ran into the clearing. The wolf was lying on the grass, then perked up as she approached, sitting on the dewy grass next to him.
"Elizabeth, hi, how are you doing?"
"I'm amazing," She grinned, holding up her brown satchel that her sister had got her from the capital, "I have a treat for you today!"
"If it's a bone, I'll bite you." He deadpanned, giving her a done look. Knowing he was kidding, she laughed loudly.
"No silly, I managed to get you a cake from my work" She turned stern and concerned, "You can eat cake, right?"
The wolf perked up, nosing her back eagerly, "I dunno, I want it anyway"
Taking the cake wrapped in brown paper out of her bag, she untied the white string that bound it and gently unfolded the package. The cake was a vanilla sponge with simple vanilla icing, she broke it in half and offered the other half to the wolf who ate it eagerly from her hand, his powerful jaws snapping powerfully. Elizabeth broke her cake into tiny pieces and ate them gently, like a proper lady.
The wolf licked his lips hungrily and yawned, laying back down on the grass with a content look.
"Wow, that's some good cake, I haven't had cake in years!"
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Elizabeth told him earnestly, taking nibbles of her own cake, and daintily licking the sweet icing off her fingers. The pair sat in silence, simply enjoying the fresh air and each others company.
"Say, Mr Wolf?" Elizabeth broke the silence, the wolf raised its head.
"Yeah?"
"What- Can you remember being human?" She asked, keeping her gaze away from his.
The wolf didn't say anything, he only stared into the distant horizon, somewhere else completely. Another time, another place, another person. She'd finished her cake by the time he came back down to earth, answering with a small but meaningful; "Yes. I do."
He didn't elaborate, and Elizabeth didn't ask.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
The summer months were fast approaching Elizabeth's small village. They were more bearable than the winter ones, and longer too, meaning more work and more pay. Lewis was back on his feet and excited to see the village again, especially Elizabeth, though his parents were understandably hesitant.
He began working at the bakery with Elizabeth and Miss Elaine, and although wary of the other men in his village, seemed brighter. Elizabeth tried to forget that she'd seen him shaking and trembling in the back room of the bakery, or that Mrs Gowther had tearfully told her that he'd awoken screaming from horrific nightmares about that night. He was putting up a brave facade, and Elizabeth couldn't help in any other way but be there for him.
"That's all you can do for him right now Elizabeth." Mr Wolf said when she had asked for his opinion. They sat in their clearing staring at the summer sky, Elizabeth played with her fingers nervously.
"Yeah, but-"
"No buts, Elizabeth." Mr Wolf said, placing a warm paw on her hands and gazing into her eyes, "You can only help him so much. You can't always be the hero, just let him know that you'll be there for him. I think that's all he wants from you."
So that was what she did, Elizabeth felt him nudge closer to her when they were walking through the woods back to his house after their shift. The air was stale between them, the sun had dried it out into sludge that was difficult to breathe in without choking.
"Lewis," She said calmly, "We've never really spoken about...what happened."
He froze, nothing but his robotic legs moving like clockwork. He gulped.
"What is there to talk about?"
"You know what. About that night. What nearly happened to us."
Lewis laughed cruelly, but it was not aimed at anyone but himself, "Again, what is there to talk about? I was beaten to a pulp, and you were nearly raped and murdered." He laughed again harshly, "See? That's all that there is to it."
The air between them had grown toxic as well as stale, and Elizabeth found herself succumbing to its pull, her throat closing up and her lungs freezing despite the hellish heat. She remembered the mans face leering at her, the way ice nipped her skin as her dress was torn away, the way her throat was forcefully closed shut by greasy hands.
"It wasn't your fault," Elizabeth nearly shouted, returning back to her time. Lewis flinched as if burned by acid. Elizabeth stopped abruptly and cupped his face in her hands, tears streaming down her face now, and tiny droplets building up in his own.
"It wasn't your fault. It was not yours, it was his. He did this. I don't blame you in the slightest." The tears were making her vision blurry and words come out choked and sob-like. Lewis stared, only stared, then his lip began to tremble and the dams broke, releasing salty tears down his pale cheeks. Elizabeth brushed her cheeks under his glasses collecting the tears on her thumb then pulling him close, resting his head on her shoulder.
The two friends stood, softly crying into one another until the stars began to shine above them. Slowly, Lewis moved away from Elizabeth, his face clean and flushed slightly, as if it had been covered with dew in the night, his eyes shining like a new moon. A new day was dawning for him.
"Thank you Elizabeth," He said, then seemed to remember something, looking away with clouded eyes. "But there is something that I've been meaning to ask you."
Her breath hitched, caught in her throat, she managed to smile a little, "What is it?"
Lewis avoided her line of sight, "I don't- I- You can be honest with me Elizabeth, okay? And I may be wrong, or whatever, but, that night, after you came back." He paused, gathering his thoughts, "I saw a werewolf. With you, I could have sworn I did. The doctor told me it was a manifestation of my nightmares but..." He trailed off.
Elizabeth couldn't breathe. If anyone knew about Mr Wolf, they'd kill him without a second thought. They couldn't, they couldn't. Lewis' nervous smile faded and became replaced with fear.
"I wasn't hallucinating or manifesting," He gasped out, eyes wide like saucers. "was I?"
*~*~S is for...~*~*
Elizabeth Lyones.
She was a peculiar girl, not like the many he had devoured before. Flirtatious or naive, he had enjoyed eating them, but afterwards was left with nothing but regret. He'd held back his urges to mutilate and eat Elizabeth, and slowly they had faded, signs that his human side was coming back to the surface. He was being cured.
Not only this, but he'd began to feel things for her. He found himself noticing how she laughed, the little wheezing breaths she took were adorable, her eyes streamed with happy tears and her whole body shook. He could feel the change deep within him, his animalistic urges were slowly vanishing, he was becoming human again.
Finally, freedom was on the horizon. He could become himself and work back to repay his debt so he could grow old and grey with someone and arrive at the pearly gates of heaven with clean hands. It wouldn't take a while, but he could do it.
A whiff of something familiar, yet utterly disgusting filled the air. He immediately knew who it was.
"Merlin," he spat out, behind him a figure gave no sign of movement but instead appeared in front of him. Standing in all her glory was the dark mage Merlin, dressed in shorts, a bra, and a long cloak, she appeared to have remained the same age since the last time he had seen her. She was beautiful, but her beauty was poisoned by a particular cruelty and sadist streak that could not be ignored.
"So you remember me?" She drawled, kneeling down so she could look into his eyes as best she could. She knew he couldn't harm her, but if he could, her throat would lay ripped out, dirtying the pure grass. "My, such violent thoughts..."
"Fuck off,"
Merlin barked out a laugh, "I've missed you, dear, truly I have. It's been what? Five years?"
"It's not been long enough, is what," He said, "What do you want?"
The golden eyes he once admired glinted with cruel mirth, "Now, now let's not be so mean to me. After all, I'm the one that made you in this way, but I'm also the one who controls how you get out of it..."
There was no lie in her statement. He growled lowly as she sat crossed legged in front of him.
"I see you've been making friends with someone..." She trailed off.
Elizabeth flashed in his head, Merlin nodded. "Yes! Her! Who is she?"
"Fuck off," He replied, stalking off, "Stay away from me, and from her, or I will not hesitate to kill you where you stand."
The laugh Merlin let out was loud, one that hurt your stomach, and it irritated him to no end.
"I don't plan on visiting her, although I might if you keep thinking terrible things about me..." He stopped thinking of Merlin altogether, instead focusing on the night air, "Good. That girl is far too innocent for me to mess with,"
"And I wasn't?"
Merlin's face turned stony, "No. You were not. You knew what you were doing perfectly well," He wanted to argue, but he couldn't. "I knew as much. You deserve this,"
"Do I?!" He shouted, "Do I really?! I made mistakes, Merlin, I know! But I was hurting, and I hurt you, but turning me into this...this monster is not right. I know what I did was wrong, I've apologised more times than I can count, what more do you want from me?"
Merlin shrugged, "I want you to suffer, you broke my heart. So I'm going to make sure you pay."
He couldn't fight it, he couldn't. He'd never be human again. Accepting his fate, he slumped down on the grass. There was no movement from Merlin.
Finally, she spoke. "Do you care for this girl?"
"I do," he replied without hesitation.
"Then I will make you a deal," he looked sceptical, "A true one, a final one, I promise. My final punishment to you. The girl cares or you a great deal. Fall in love with her, and have her say your true name, and you will become human again. If not, you will remain a monstrous wolf for the rest of your pitiful life." She stood up, "You have one week,"
Then she vanished, and he was left alone.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
Lewis had been terrified.
"He was the one who helped me save you, he saved my life!" Elizabeth told him excitedly, "He can speak, I asked him to help me and he did. I think he was human once, Lewis, I've never met anyone like him,"
"Oh god," Lewis groaned, clutching the bridge of his nose and shutting his eyes, "He can speak!? He's a werewolf, Elizabeth, he's dangerous!"
Elizabeth frowned, "And that's how you treat the person who helped me save you?"
"Elizabeth please, see sense! He's a werewolf, how many people has he killed, huh? Has he told you? Or is he feeding you up with sugar-sweet lies until you're ready to eat. I will not let him eat you Ellie, I can't!"
Elizabeth huffed, pulling away from him, exasperated and frustrated, "I am not weak, Lewis, if he was going to eat me I would fight. But I have complete faith in him! I have to, he's saved me!"
"And what about your soulmate, hm?"
She gasped, raising her hand to her one green eye, "My soulmate...?"
"How would they feel about this huh? I doubt they'd be pleased-"
"Well they'd just have to get used to it!" She shouted. Lewis flinched. Above them, birds scattered, flying away their cries got softer and softer. Everything went silent. Elizabeth's breath left her in huffs and puffs as she took deep breaths and calmed down, noticing Lewis' fear and hurt. He had turned away from her now, facing the endless woods to their right and let soft pearly tears slip from his eyes.
"Fine." He relented, but was obviously not pleased. "I'll not say anything." Lewis turned back to face her, eyes ablaze with a fury Elizabeth had never seen before, "But if I see any sign that he's hurt you in any way, I'll kill him."
She didn't comment that her wolf could easily tear him apart. "I understand that,"
Lewis nodded, "Okay. Good." and they both walked in silence to his house, and parted ways once again without words.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
"Did you ever have a soulmate, Mr Wolf?"
He raised his head off the grass slowly, he and Elizabeth were in their meadow again. The wind blew softly, warm and pleasant, a sure sign of a good summer.
"Why'd you ask?" He replied. Elizabeth shrugged.
"I was curious. I was talking to my friend about it the other day, and I wondered if you'd ever had one, when you were human,"
The wolf was quiet, staring off into space. Living a billion miles away in that moment before crashing back down to Earth.
"I did, I suppose," He said, "Once. A long time ago. I don't think she was the one but it sure damn felt like it at the time."
"I see..." Elizabeth trailed off, playing with the hem of her dress. The wolf kept his stare on her.
"Is something wrong?"
Her head shot up and she shook her hands, "No! No, not at all! I just- What happened to your soulmate, to you?" She blurted out, immediately covering her mouth with her hands and turning away from him. Her face burned, this time with shame.
"My soulmate...Well, I don't think we were soulmates. That's the thing, I still had a different coloured eye when I met her, but fuck, if I didn't love her so much. My heart felt so warm, so whole when I was with her. I felt like I could do anything. If I was with her, I wouldn't need anything else."
He paused. "Then she got sick. Really sick." Elizabeth shuddered. "It took her so quickly, I blinked, and she was dead. I didn't know how to cope, I did things I'm not proud of. I slept with women left, right, and centre, using protection of course, then left them broken hearted.
"One day, I messed with the wrong woman, the vengeful type who happened to be a mage too. I left her as I did the others, she found me, and turned me into this...hideous thing. I ran out of the village before I could be hunted, and I've been living in these woods ever since..."
Elizabeth leant forward encasing the wolf in her arms and burying her face into the soft fur of his neck. She felt herself sighing, wishing she could somehow transfer all the good fortune and good luck into him. The soft weight of his muzzle rested on her shoulder blades. She wished he was human so he could hold her in return.
"I've been given an ultimatum, I've a week until my time is up and I'll stay this way forever. I'll remain as a wolf forever, or at least until I'm hunted and killed." The resignation in his voice made tears well up in Elizabeth's eyes.
"What can I do?" She whispered, "Please. I'll do anything to help you."
The wolf pulled away, letting Elizabeth's arms fall to her side. The look it gave her was melancholy, his black eyes filled with a sadness that Elizabeth felt in her own heart.
He paused, "There is something...but...it's too selfish of me to ask it of you."
"Mister Wolf, wai-" She cried, but the wolf turned and ran before she could continue.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
Lewis was still skeptical about Elizabeth and the wolf. She'd run to his house, teary eyed and desperate to help him with...whatever it was, Lewis didn't really understand. He'd pulled her into his room and made her favourite tea. Elizabeth sat sipping it in his wicker armchair, her eyes glassy and her eyebrows furrowed.
"So," He said, sitting on the edge of his bed. Elizabeth's eyes snapped to his. "What's going on?"
Elizabeth grimaced. "Mr Wolf has been given an ultimatum."
"Meaning?"
"He has a week before he's made to remain a wolf for all time."
Lewis' eyes widened. Elizabeth remained silent, glaring at the wooden floor of his bedroom.
"Jesus Christ..." he groaned, rubbing his pale face with a skeletal hand. "Well? What can you do about it?"
She was silent for a moment. "I don't know."
"What do you mean you 'don't know'? You wouldn't have come here if there wasn't something, I know you Elizabeth."
"He won't tell me!" She exclaimed, slamming her teacup down with tremendous force. "The stupid wolf won't let me help him!" She put down her teacup and leant forward pushing her face into her hands, "the selfish, foolish, stupid-"
"Elizabeth!" Lewis knelt in front of her, pulling her hands from her teary face and wiping away any stray tears. "Listen to me, we can fix this, okay? We'll find something. We'll save him."
"I thou-thought you didn't like him..." she muttered, words choked out.
"I don't, but you're happy and he's clearly the cause of your happiness, so I'll do anything I can to help him."
The pair were pushed to the floor as Elizabeth threw her arms around Lewis' neck and hugged him tight, both falling flat with an 'oof!'
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Elizabeth rambled into his shoulder, Lewis didn't say anything, he just held her close and hoped the soft strokes on her hair and the tight hold of his embrace was enough to tell her how he felt, how it was all going to be okay.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
The library became a permanent place for Elizabeth. When she wasn't working or at home with her father, or with her wolf, she was at the library researching mythology and lycanthropy.
The third day came and went, and yet she had nothing. No books had supplied her with any information on how to save a werewolf, only how to kill them.
Wolfsbane was a treatment, but the nearest witch was nearly a months walk south, maybe two weeks on horseback if they were lucky. And besides, it was highly toxic, Elizabeth wasn't risking anything. Not to mention he wasn't born a werewolf, it was pushed upon him by magic, so a cure wouldn't be so easily found.
Silver would kill him, supposedly, and Elizabeth made a mental note to not wear her silver jewellery around him- just in case.
But no cure.
Not that she would ever admit it to anyone, but she was losing hope quickly. The summer was almost here, and the Wolfs' time was almost up. But she remained cheerful around him, to help keep up appearances and to trick herself into believing that they would stay as they were.
The morning of the fifth day came and brought more sun and an even more upset Elizabeth. It seemed as if her world was grey, nothing mattered, her limbs were bound in invisible mud, movements slow and lethargic.
Her father had begun to notice how her smile didn't reach her eyes. She would vanish for hours after her shift had ended, not that he minded that, but she can even back looking more and more empty each time. On one of his better days, Elizabeth's father found the strength to walk about the house, and found Elizabeth standing at the sink. She had a plate in her soapy hand and was rubbing a cloth around it in circular motions. She was cleaning, but really she was millions of miles away, staring out the window into the woods.
"Elizabeth?" He called out gently. She startled, almost dropping the plate. "Are you feeling alright?"
There was a seconds delay in her reply. "Oh, yes father. I was lost in thought, that's all."
He didn't believe her. "Right, of course." Elizabeth smiled softly and went back to washing the dishes. The quiet was palpable.
"Your sisters are coming home tomorrow." He prompted some excitement from her, instead she chuckled not meeting his eye.
"That's good, I can't wait to see them again." Her voice was quiet with fake enthusiasm, but she was trying to make him happy even with other things on her mind. "Father," She said, "You'd best be getting back to bed, you need to be in full health to hug Veronica and Margaret again, hm?"
He sighed, knowing she was partly right, but also knowing she was trying to usher him away and close him out. He did as she wanted, earning a brief smile from her. Her father returned to his bed and lay down, picking up and reading his favourite book, listening as Elizabeth gently pottered about the kitchen.
She made dinner for them both but doubled her fathers portions and left none for herself, complaining of a stomach ache. Elizabeth went to her own room and closed the door, telling him to call her if he needed anything.
He didn't call on her, putting his bowl away himself, which was just as well. Tears poured down her face as she thought of her wolf, how after he left she would never know what was to happen to him. He could be captured, slain, or worse and she would be helpless as usual.
Only the stars were there to witness her crying.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
(three DAYS)
Veronica and Margaret arrived the next day on horseback having met up in the capital earlier in the week. Cheers, cries, and greetings welcomed them back to the small village. The children eager to hear about Margaret's soulmate and Veronica's new and exciting position as a blacksmith.
The two sisters dismounted as Elizabeth ran to meet them, englufing Veronica and Margaret in her arms. Veronica's loud laugh filled her ears, filling Elizabeth with a sense of home and comfort. Being back with her sisters was like being ten again and playing royalty with no cares in the world.
Veronica only came up to her shoulders now, whilst Margaret was the tallest of all embraced both of them with ease.
"Oh Ellie! Ellie, Ellie, Ellie, Ellie how big you've grown!" Veronica cried, pulling away to look at all of Elizabeth, "You're so skinny! I hope you've been eating well!"
Elizabeth laughed nervously, "I have, don't worry. Now please come in, father is waiting."
Veronica and Margaret were ushered inside by Elizabeth who took their horse round the back of the house and let it graze peacefully. Inside, the chatter of the family filled the empty space, cheerful laughter and happy conversation made the air pleasant again. For the first time she felt able to breathe in her own home. After making tea for herself, her sisters, and her father, she joined them in his bedroom. Taking a box as a spare seat she sat back and listened to her sister's tales.
"Father, I also have some interesting news for you..." Margaret said, brushing her violet hair out the way. Veronica smirked into her cup. "I, I have finally found my soulmate!" She exclaimed, blushing. Elizabeth spat into her cup in shock.
Their father frowned and sat up straighter in his bed. Veronica sniggered.
"Here we go," She muttered to Elizabeth, who was still shocked, "Father is going full-parent mode..."
Their father gave Veronica a stern look, "As your father I must ensure that you're soulmate is the best that they can be. I don't want any deadbeats or perverts marrying my children,"
Margaret sipped on her tea. "He's a Knight; Sir Gilthunder. I met him whilst he was on a quest in Camelot working with King Arthur, my lady's ward and Camelot's ruler, to thwart a werewolf problem on the Cornellian border."
The word 'werewolf' made Elizabeth shudder, "Werewolf problem...?" She asked. Veronica and their father stared at her curiously.
"Yes," Margaret said, "Werewolves, there seemed to be an abundance of them on the border for a reason we couldn't explain..."
"What did they do to them?" Elizabeth mumbled, Margaret ducked her head.
"I don't know." She said finally.
The family were silent. They all knew.
That night, Elizabeth sat outside staring at the stars. She only had a few days left to save Meliodas, then he would be lost forever. Margaret's lady was a mage, perhaps she had a cure for werewolf-ism.
But she could have easily saved the werewolves outside of Camelot if she did, Elizabeth thought. Or maybe she was just cruel. Sighing, Elizabeth went back inside and went to her makeshift bed in the main room, pulling the thin covers around her, she dreamt of wolves.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
(two DAYS)
The bakery was quiet that day, Mrs Elaine was humming gently whilst kneading dough for bread. Elizabeth was stocking up her baskets for their delivery. Mrs Elaine had been a medic in her younger days working as an apothecary in the capital, and had even been an apprentice in her spare time.
"Mrs Elaine?"
The older woman didn't look up but smiled, "Yes dearest?"
"Do you know much about lycanthropy?"
Mrs Elaine stopped suddenly, "Why do you ask, dear?"
"Just...taking an interest." Elizabeth said, "I am thinking about pursuing a career in the apothecary trade," a small white lie that made Mrs Elaine smile.
"Thats wonderful, dear," She said, "Not many young women want to go into the medical field nowadays, I'm thrilled you want to pick it up. Let me have a look, I'll see if I have anything on lycanthropy,"
Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Mrs Elaine,"
The elder let out a chuckle, "It's nothing, dear,"
The shop was fairly quiet for the rest of the day, Elizabeth did her deliveries and hid a couple of treats for Mr Wolf to have with her. She debated bringing a hot pot of tea with her, and wondered what kind of tea wolves drank. Would they prefer regular? Earl Grey? Maybe peppermint? She decided to bring a variety and some hot water.
Her mother was a fan of tea and introduced it to her whole family, so Elizabeth ventured home and found the small stash they had kept hidden for special occasions. The entire village knew their family liked tea so gave it to them at Christmas. Her father napped in his bedroom, the whole house was silent. Elizabeth suspected Margaret was visiting old friends and neighbours, while Veronica was probably visiting the local blacksmiths. She had been determined to work for her while short vacation here, trying to gain women extra money.
The kettle over the fire whistled for attention. Elizabeth hummed to herself while she slipped a tea cosy over the boiling metal. The air outside was chill and cold, telling of the upcoming winters harshness. With the kettle covered and the wolf's snacks hidden under the plaid cover, Elizabeth wore her red cloak and rested the basket in the crook of her arm.
"What are you doing?" The kettle nearly spilled all over Elizabeth, Veronica was standing behind her, one purple eyebrow raised suspiciously.
"V-Veronica, what are you doing home?" Elizabeth stammered nervously.
"I came to get my sword to show the blacksmith." She paused, "The real question is: what are you doing?"
"It's Lewis, Lewis Gowther, his kettle is broken so I'm bringing this to him."
Elizabeth gestured to the basket, but Veronica didn't seem convinced. Something about her older sister was that she knew if someone was lying. Elizabeth asked her many a time to explain how, but Veronica remained tight lipped.
However Veronica dropped the subject, "Send them my regards," she said flippantly. Veronica left with her sword, with Elizabeth waving awkwardly behind her until she was out of sight. Then she wasted no time in putting her good up and going to meet her wolf.
Elizabeth didn't notice Veronica staring at her, hidden behind the wall of a house, wondering where she was really going.
The Wolf was waiting for her when she arrived, lying down in their field. The flowers were long gone, and the way the grass was either frozen or wet meant Elizabeth had taken to bringing a blanket to sit on during their meetings.
"Good afternoon Mr Wolf!" She greeted, the Wolf raised his head and offered her a toothy grin.
"Hiya Elizabeth," he nuzzled the basket, "What have you brought me today?"
"Patience!" She chided, sitting down on the blanket. Mr Wolf lay down next to her, waiting. "Good, now I've brought some treats and some tea!"
The Wolf gave her another half grin, "I've not had tea in years! Why types have you got?"
"Um, English, earl grey, mint, peppermint, probably some more fancy ones too. What would you like?"
The Wolf replied, "Peppermint is my favourite, I used to drink it all the time."
Elizabeth produced a bowl and a small, chipped teacup that she used. The Wolf looked distastefully at the bowl as she poured in the hot liquid.
"This is humiliating." He sighed, gently lapping up the tea. Elizabeth held back a laugh.
"Well," she said, "When you become a human again, you can be more civilised. I'll buy you your very own special cup."
The Wolf stilled, and Elizabeth's heart dropped. He stared at her with those big black eyes, filled with grief and regret.
"Elizabeth, I'm not getting turned back..."
"Why won't you let me help you?!" She shouted, suddenly terribly angry. The Wolf seemed taken aback by her sudden outburst as his ears flattened against the jet black fur of his head and he let out a pitiful whine, Elizabeth felt a teensy bit bad, but continued on her lecture nonetheless. "Why? Why are you so damn set on punishing yourself? You can't always play the victim Mr Wolf, you can't hate yourself for being like this and being alone all of the time when you reject the one chance you have of being human again!"
Mr Wolf didn't reply, he simply lay down and huffed. The anger was properly swelling in Elizabeth's chest, and finally it spilled over with tears that dripped down her cheeks and off her chin, staining her dress.
The Wolf raised his head. "Elizabeth you're crying-"
"I know, thank you," She snapped, wiping her face that soon became wer with more tears, a never ending flow trailing down her pale face. "Why won't you even tell me what one would have to do to save you?" Her voice was quiet, almost defeated.
There was a small pause, then Mr Wolf sighed.
"There's a number of ways, first off you can throw my clothes at me, but all my things were either lost or sold after I ran away. The chance of you finding something of mines is slim. Then there's the other option..."
"Please tell me," Elizabeth pleaded desperately, on her hands and knees in front of him.
"You...someone has to know my real name, and they have to tell me it." Elizabeths mouth opened, "But they also have to be truly in love with me. I have to love them too. That's the catch." The Wolf gazed at her pitifully, "You're young Elizabeth, you have your whole life ahead of you and a soulmate to find. I'm assuming you haven't found them yet."
The laugh Elizabeth let out was almost hysterical, so much so it scared her slightly, but goddamn if she wasn't relieved as hell. There was a chance, right? A chance that he liked her too. He was a man in a wolfs body, she didn't fall in love with his physical appearance but with his kind heart, and his humour. She had fallen in love. Her soulmate wasn't even in her mind anymore, only Mr Wolf was.
"Mr Wolf you need to tell me your name." Elizabeth said, no longer crying, instead her eyes were bright with determination.
"Elizabeth-"
"No. Please listen, I'm being completely serious, I swear. I love you. I can- I want nothing more but to save you. Please let me save you."
She sat in front of him, taking his long wolfs face into her hands and cupping it. Keeping their eyes locked together, hoping to convey some of the emotions she was feeling. The Wolf's eyes widened, he looked away, then back, then away and fonally back into Elizabeth's eyes. He couldn't see the green one obscured under her hair, and his one remained a mystery behind his black eyes.
"Will you give me an answer?" She asked gently.
The Wolf took a sharp breath, "Elizabeth, I-"
"Elizabeth?!"
Quickly dropping the wolfs face, Elizabeth turned to see if her suspicions were correct. She desperately hoped they weren't. That it was a trick of the ear, an auditory illusion. But it wasn't. No, standing in front of Elizabeth and her wolf, staring at them both with fear, disgust, confusion, and maybe even a bit of hatred was none other than her sister. Veronica.
Words escaped Elizabeth's mind, all she could think of was Veronica, the blacksmith, taught to hate werewolves as all the children in their village were, Veronica with her massive aray of weapons, and specifically ones dangerous to werewolves. In fact Veronica had one had on her sword which was strapped around her waist hidden carefully under a purple cloak. She brandished her sword just as the Wolf growled and leapt in front of Elizabeth, curving round her kneeling form.
"Ellie." Veronica snarled, "Move slowly towards me, and this monster won't harm you. I'll make sure of it."
Mr Wolf's growling grew stronger and stronger, "Don't you fucking touch her." He barked, his voice not the gentle one Elizabeth was used to hearing. This one was deep, sinister, and had an inhuman echo around it. "Or I'll kill you myself."
"No, wait, Veronica please-" Elizabeth shouted before Veronica had the chance to strike, "Mr Wolf please don't attack her, she's my sister."
Both the Wolf and Veronica seemed to lower their guard for a second, before returning to their defensive stances. Elizabeth stood up coming in between her Wolf and Veronica, she pressed her hand gently on Veronica's blade and held her hand out to the wolf, signalling to halt.
"I know this looks weird, Veronica, but he's good, he's a good wolf-"
"There's no such thing!" She roared, Mr Wolf began snarling again.
"There is!" Elizabeth screamed back, wiping away the small amount of makeup she wore, revealing her black eye. It wasn't as bad as it was, only a faint green-purple tinge remained, but still Veronica winced. "Remember this? This wolf saved me, he saved me and Lewis Gowther. We would be dead without him!"
Veronica flinched, stepping a good few steps back before sheathing her sword and glancing between Elizabeth and the Wolf, turned 180 degrees and ran. Elizabeth reached a hand out to her.
"Mr Wolf, run. Hide. But promise you'll come back."
He nodded, and they both ran. The Wolf into the sanctuary of the forest, and Elizabeth after her sister, the tea and blanket lay forgotten.
For someone considerably shorter than Elizabeth, Veronica moved very quickly, but Elizabeth still managed to catch up with her just as she reached the large path that lead her back to town.
"Veronica, wait!" Elizabeth hissed, grabbing her sister and pinning her against a tree. Veronica shrieked, but Elizabeth muffled it by covering her mouth with her hand. She glared and wiggled, but didn't push too hard. "Please listen to me."
She licked Elizabeth's hand, and Elizabeth tore it away with a shriek wiping it on her dress. Veronica wiped her mouth and stared angrily at Elizabeth.
"What on earth are you doing Ellie?!" She whispered harshly, gesturing down the path to their meadow, "That thing could have killed you, quite easily at that."
"He wouldn't. He's my friend."
Veronica gritted her teeth, "Well, regardless, he is a werewolf. You know how many people I've seen killed? You know how many families are broken apart by murderous werewolves? Too many. You're so sheltered here Ellie, once you see the real world you'll realise how cruel they are."
"I would go see the real world if I could. But I'm needed here to look after our father while my sisters are miles away in kingdoms and cities making a living, finding their soulmates!"
"That's low, even for you. You know Margaret and I have to work, don't turn that on us. You think our jobs are all fun and games?"
"You think being attacked here was all fun and games?" Elizabeth retorted, the anger in her voice gone, all that was left was misery. "I'm just saying, Veronica. I love you, and I'm happy for you but this is my life. That wolf saved my life, he could have killed me, he really could. But he didn't."
The rage in Veronica died too, and she was quiet, silently offering Elizabeth more time to explain.
"He was cursed," She continued, "After the death of his loved one, not his soulmate but another. It's not his fault. He's still human Veronica, he can be saved. But I'm running out of time and he won't tell me what to do, and-" Another pitiful sob choked her, and Veronica placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It'll all be okay," Veronica offered. Elizabeth nodded.
"Thank you." She replied, her face was dry surprisingly, but her eyes burned with unshed tears. She couldn't cry. She has work to do. As the pair headed back into the village Elizabeth made Veronica promise, swear on her life, that they wouldn't mention Mr Wolf or his location. Hesitantly, she agreed.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
(one DAY)
One day remained for Elizabeth and her wolf to find a cure, she could feel the dread in her stomach becoming more and more noticable. It stopped her from eating, it stopped her from sleeping, Elizabeth felt she couldn't function properly. People had begun noticing the distinct changes in her attitude, her smile seemed more forced, her perfect complexion became dull and worn. A gauntness had stuck itself to her face, making her cheekbones stick out ever so slightly.
"Are you feeling okay?" Lewis had asked her when she was visiting. It had been a few days at least since she had last seen him.
Elizabeth nodded quickly, "Yes, of course, I am perfectly fine." Lewis, however, gave her a scathing look, and she faltered. "Alright...maybe I'm a little worried about my wolf but I can't help it!"
Lewis sighed this time, removing his glasses and rubbing a hand over his face. "Ellie, you need to look after yourself. Goodness me," He chuckled a little, "I'm the only ill person allowed in this village.
This earned him a small grin, "I know, Lewis, but I need to save him. I have to, but he won't tell me anything." She groaned, "Why are men so stubborn?"
"We're idiots."
She didn't reply.
"Elizabeth," He said softly, taking her hands gently in his own. "You have to understand, some people don't want to be saved." She sniffled, "I know it's shitty, but you can't force him to let you save him. He has to want it too."
Deep down she understood. What the wolf was repaying had deeply upset him and the person who had done that to him. From what she had heard he didn't want saving, he deserved everything that had happened to him. Elizabeth stood up.
"I can try, even if he hates me, even if he runs away and never returns. I have to try!"
She grabbed her cloak and swung it over her shoulders, attaching it at the hollow of her throat. Lewis stood shakily.
"Your stubborness is going to get you killed one day." He said.
She stared at him, not backing down, "I know." And she was gone.
On her way back Elizabeth decided to see if her wolf was in their spot, and if their tea set was still there from the previous day. She made her way down the path and found her tea set, but no sign of her wolf.
Just behind her, Veronica watched as her baby sister vanished into the foliage off to see her wolf. She hated feeling this useless, her sister could be killed by that thing and they wouldn't even know until it was too late. God, Elizabeth was so naïve. Veronica huffed and turned back down the path to the village.
She wasn't watching where she was going and bumped into one of the townsmen, she let out a shriek as she fell onto the ground.
"Excuse me, miss," He apologised profusely, offering her a hand to help her up. Veronica scowled but took it. He was tall and blonde, not as handsome as her soulmate but she could appreciate his looks. "I'm very sorry, I should have been more aware of my surroundings."
"No, no," She dissmissed him with a wave of her hand, "It was equally my fault, don't worry."
"Alright, thank you, miss." He said, but then frowned at Veronica's troubled look. "Are you alright?" He asked her.
Veronica remembered Elizabeth's words. She wasn't to tell anybody.
"Wait a minute, you're Elizabeth's sister, aren't you?"
"Y-Yes, I am, why?"
"Oh, no I was just wondering. I'm rather fond of Ellie, and I thought I recognised you." He paused, "Is there...something wrong with her?"
Veronica winced, he seemed nice, and genuine. Elizabeth hadn't mentioned him before, which was strange, but he seemed to know her. He called her Ellie, which no one except her family did. Surely telling one person wouldn't hurt.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
This was the last day. Tomorrow nothing could be done. Elizabeth had been at the field all day, waiting for her wolf to show up, but he hadn't. Her sisters were out, leaving her to make their dinner alone. Which was just as well as the tears wouldn't stop flowing down her weary face. She had failed him.
Now, she supposed, was the time to begin moving on. Elizabeth doubted her wolf would ever show up again. Maybe it was for the best...maybe this would become a story she would tell her soulmate, her children, and then her grandchildren. Maybe even her great-grandchildren, supposing she lived that long. She would tell her soulmate about her werewolf friend, but never about how she really felt for him. It would be a funny story, not a tragic one. Maybe one day she could even tell her father, and Elaine.
The soup she had made was ready to be served. It was dark and still her sisters weren't back, they could heat it up later. For now, Elizabeth put it in a bowl and went through to her fathers room. It was dark in there too, so she lit a candle and placed it on his bedside table.
"Father, I have your dinner here," He clapped his hands feebly.
"Wonderful, what soup is it today?"
"It's a bit of a mix, vegetable soup, but I added some of the rabbit Veronica caught the other day. I suppose it isn't vegetable soup after all." She giggled.
Her father took a deep breath, "It smells delicious. Speaking of Veronica, where are your sisters?"
Elizabeth shrugged, "I'm not sure. They didn't even tell me where they were going."
Suddenly a faint light began to fill the room, it grew and grew, as did voices from outside. Elizabeth excused herself to see what was happening, peering outside she saw fire. Initially believing that the village was burning, she saw people carrying flaming torches into the woods. A horde carrying pitchforks and various other weapons.
Kill the wolf, kill the wolf, kill the wolf
Elizabeth's stomach dropped, her blood running cold. They were going to kill him.
"How?" She cried to herself, running and grabbing her cloak, ignoring her father's confused shouts. She shot out the door in time to see the last of the group heading up the path, the fire growing fainter and fainter.
"Ellie!" Veronica screamed, running towards her. "Ellie I'm so sorry, I didn't mean- I thought he knew you, I did- I thought he was-"
"You told someone?!" Elizabeth grabbed Veronica's shoulder's, shaking her. Margaret was just behind her.
"I didn't mean to I swear, I'm sorry Ellie, I'm so sorry."
There was no time to yell at Veronica now, Elizabeth knew, she had to save her wolf, even if he was destined to be that way forever, he didn't deserve to die. She let go of Veronica and ran for her life towards the woods, the ground beneath her crunched with frozen leaves and her breath became cloudy before her eyes.
She followed the footsteps, their field seemed farther away than it usually was. It was so close, so close, so close. But before she could turn down the path something, or rather someone grabbed her hand, it was an old lady. She wore a black cloak and came up to Elizabeths chest.
"Please let me go, ma'am, I have to be quick, please."
"My dear," The woman said calmly, Elizabeth realised she couldn't see her face. "I know, I'm the person who made him into the moster he is today."
Elizabeth gasped, trying to squirm out of her grasp again, "But I realise now I was justified then, but it has been so many years, he has suffered so much more than I have, or did. So I wish to save him too."
"Do you...do you know his name?" The woman nodded and pulled Elizabeth down, whispering in her ear the name she'd been searching for. Elizabeth stood tall and the woman released her wrist.
"Thank you," Elizabeth told her sincerely, crying fully now, "Thank you so much."
The woman said nothing as the young girl ran off in the direction of her wolf, Merlin released the glamour and took off the cloak. She wished the couple the best, and with a click of her fingers it was as if she'd never been there.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
Elizabeth reached the clearing. The green grass was brown in some places, and black in others. Smoke permeated the air and made it difficult to breathe, the crowd of people chanting to kill the wolf was deafening her. Elizabeth did her best to push past them, in the middle of the circle was three men, a blonde and two brunettes. The brunettes held her wolf down on the ground with thick, coarse ropes. The wolf snarled at his captors, the blond was facing him with a shotgun in hand.
"For many years we have lost men, women, even children, to this beast. But no more. Tonight you will pay for those lives with your own." He lined up the shotgun, aiming it right at the wolfs head. Elizabeth gasped and tried to push forward again but was held back by the edge of the crowd. The blond saw her and raised the shotgun at her instead, she glared at him, still struggling.
"Stand down, miss, we will rid you of this burden." The wolf snarled again, having seen Elizabeth being threatened he tried to leap at the blond but was only held back tighter, letting out a pitiful yelp.
"I will not, he is not a burden nor is he a monster, he's a victim of poor choices and unfortunate circumstances!"
The blond scowled, "It killed people."
"Who?" She cried, "Who?! We all hear the stories but has anyone ever gone missing? You've been paying more attention to stories and rumours than to real life. He saved me, and it's my turn to save him."
"Stand down, I don't care who you are, I will not hesitate to kill you too, if you happen to get in my way."
He lined up the shot once more, Elizabeth shook off the people holding her. She ran to her wolf before the man could pull the trigger.
"MELIODAS!"
The world was filled with a bright light, Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her wolf and held him close as the light engulfed everyone.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
Elizabeth, for a minute, was sure she was floating. The world around her seemed to fade away into nothingness, and she was left feeling very peaceful. She waited, and became more and more aware of her surroundings. First that she was holding something, and it was holding her back. Her eyes snapped open.
Around her, people were rubbing their eyes, the man with the shotgun had falled backwards, the gun lay a few feet away from him. In Elizabeth's arms was a man, a man with bright blonde hair that shot out in all directions. Was it...?
"Mr Wolf?" Elizabeth asked, the man in her arms looked up at her, his face childish and mischevious, one eye green, the other bright blue. There was a minute of confusion as Elizabeth watched his blue eye slowly fade to green. The green that was the same shade as her eye.
"Hey Elizabeth," He said, grinning up at her. Tears flowed freely down her face as she pressed her face into his hair, hugging him tightly.
"You- You're-"
"Yeah." He held her back just as tight, stroking her back gently, "I'm here, you saved me Elizabeth. Thank you."
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, none had ever seen a wolf turn into a man before, it was unheard of. But neither Meliodas nor Elizabeth payed any attention to the crowd, only when Margaret and Veronica showed up a few minutes later. Elizabeth gave Meliodas her cloak to cover him, and helped him to his feet. He was introduced as her soulmate just as the stars began to shine fully.
Veronica cried apologies to Elizabeth, "What you did was wrong, but I forgive you." Elizabeth said, Veronica nodded and wiped her tears away. The village apologised to the pair, as did the blond man (who Veronica appeared to recognise) but Elizabeth waved them away, as long as they didn't treat Meliodas any different now, they were all forgiven.
"You're my soulmate after all," Meliodas said, taking Elizabeth's hand. He was shorter than her, by quite a bit, but she didn't mind, she was far too elated.
"I am," She replied, "Is...is that okay?"
"It's more than okay! I'm glad it's you."
The sincere look in his eyes melted her heart, on the edge of the woods, under the stars the pair exchanged a sweet kiss and began their life together.
*~*~S is for...~*~*
Years later, Meliodas and Elizabeth were married, still living with Elizabeth's father. Although they were in much better conditions thanks to Meliodas' skills as a hunter, he managed to earn them quite a bit by hunting rabbits and deer and selling them in the village. Though Elizabeth was adamant she keep her job, she was glad to have the extra money for her father's medicine.
Margaret and Gilthunder were engaged, but still unmarried, and still resided in Camelot. Veronica and her soulmate had decided to travel around Britannia, sending trinkets and letters from every village they went.
Lewis Gowther remained sickly, but found a wonderful partner to share his life with, and was happy with them. Elizabeth still visited often and they remained friends for the rest of their lives.
The most important part: they lived happily ever after.
The End.
A.N: Omg it's been over a year. but this prompt is finished! Hello! How is everyone doing? I'm functioning again, which is good I suppose. Life has been really shitty recently, but I'm moving forward, as I should, and this is finally fucking done!
I want to thank everyone for supporting me throughout this story, or anthology, i guess. I promise I will never abandon this work, never ever, it might take me a while but I will always update. Your reviews have kept me motivated throughout this whole experience. So thank you, next up is T which again, might take a while to come out but hopefully this is evidence that I will never give up. I've also decided not to go by Ruby anymore, it was a way to keep myself safe and so if anyone I knew found this they wouldn't think it was me, but fuck it. I'm leaving school soon.
Thank you to everyone. I love and appreciate you all.
- Rachael xxx (My real name)