Chapter Four- The Massacre
Adam laid in his cell hours later, awaiting his involuntary changed to a wild, uncontrollable werewolf. In this state, he would have no memory of what he could and would do. Only Skeletor could control him and order him to do whatever he wanted. Not that I would disobey him in any event, he thought. I gave my word that I would faithfully serve him. I have nowhere to go, truthfully. I value my freedom and I would do almost anything to keep it. No, that's not true. I will do anything to keep it.
He felt the bubbling, burning feeling in his stomach from yesterday return and he staggered to his feet. He fought to retain his mind as he watched himself shift from human to werewolf, but his mind swiftly succumbed to the feral and wild instincts of the werewolf. He howled in the cell before launching himself at the cell door. It shuddered, but held firm. He backed up and crouched, preparing to run and ram the door.
Skeletor appeared at the door's window and briefly admired his wild servant before saying, "Adam, stop!"
Adam froze and then stood to his full height. He was still controlled by wild instincts, but some part of him recognized his master and thus, he obeyed.
"Very good. Now, go to sleep and I'll let you out tomorrow night."
Adam promptly curled up and was asleep in no time. Skeletor laughed as he walked away. He would let Adam out tomorrow night all right: At the Royal Palace! Adam would be wild for one more night this month and Skeletor wanted the king and his guards dead by the end of tomorrow night. He would tell Adam and his warriors the plan in the morning and, as he promised, Adam will carry out his orders.
Adam felt slightly stunned at what he heard. Master Skeletor wanted him to commit a mass murder at the palace tonight? How could he? He still loved his father. He doesn't love you, a dark evil voice in his head answered. He wants to imprison you and, failing that, he was willing to let the guards kill you. What father is willing to have his son dead? Besides, Skeletor is your master and he'll treat you well as long as you do as he says. Adam thought the voice made a lot of sense and he felt his heart harden. He'd rather serve Skeletor if it meant being free.
"Adam, do you understand?" Skeletor demanded.
Adam squared his shoulders. "Yes, Master. I will kill the king and the guards."
"Excellent, although, if you were to curse a guard or two, that would be acceptable."
"Curse, Master?"
"Of course. On the nights of the full moon, a bite from you will curse a person as long as they survive the attack. In fact, I command you to curse at least one person tonight."
Adam bowed his head. "As you wish, Master."
Adam cautiously crept around the perimeter of the palace, wary of any guards that might be on patrol. He wondered, Where would be the best place to be when the moon rose? My old bedroom perhaps? Yes, that sounds perfect. He wanted to kill Randor first before turning on the guards. He didn't care who he cursed or how many, he just wanted Randor dead.
He made it to where his room was situated and managed to jump up and land on the balcony. The room was empty and the door was closed. He wasn't concerned; once he transformed, the door wouldn't stand a chance. He stood in the room, watching the sunset. The sky darkened and a full moon slowly rose into the sky, its light spilling into his room and onto him.
The bubbling and burning came again and Adam was focusing on his mission's points. Evil-Lyn had told him that if he focused on what he had to do as he transformed, he would subconsciously remember his orders even in his uncontrolled state. Skeletor added that he would mentally order Adam, to make sure. He felt his feral instincts surface and at the same time, heard Skeletor in his head say, "Kill the king and as many guards as you can. Curse at least one and then return once your mission is complete." He howled loudly before barreling towards the door and ramming it out of its frame with his shoulder.
His howl and ramming brought a quartet of guards to investigate the noise. Adam didn't hesitate as he lunged at them, slashing or tearing their throats out before sniffing the air and recognizing the king's scent. He ran toward the scent, slashing and tearing guards apart as he did so. There were two guards standing outside the Throne Room. He quickly killed them, reveling in the thrill of the kill, before bounding into the room.
Randor stood before the throne's steps, a weapon in his hand. He wasn't going to go down without a fight and that suited Adam just fine. He was getting bored with how easy it was killing the guards and he wanted a true challenge to feed his bloodlust. He growled as he dropped to his hands and paws and started circling the king. Randor turned to keep Adam in sight.
"Adam, I don't know if you can hear me or understand me, but I ask you to stop now. You can't let Skeletor continue to control you. Fight it, my son. Fight it."
The werewolf didn't answer; instead he growled louder and leaped toward him. Randor held his weapon horizontally across his chest as he was pushed onto his back. He pushed his weapon against Adam's chest in an effort to keep the werewolf at bay. It was all in vain; Adam was simply too strong and too vicious. He raised a clawed hand to grab the weapon and yanked it out of Randor's grip. He flung it aside before slashing at his victim's chest and tearing the throat apart with his teeth. He howled in triumph and felt a frenzy seize him, demanding more killing. He was more than happy to oblige. He sprinted out of the room to kill some more and curse some guards as well.
He caught the scent of a woman while he was in the midst of killing a dozen guards. This woman, she would be one of the cursed. He slashed two guards' throats apart and delivered survivable, but deep bites to two others before heading toward the woman's location.
He burst into Man-At-Arms' workshop to see two humans, one of which was the woman. He could kill the other human or curse him too. Yes, he will curse both. He had already killed all the guards except two and they were cursed. He didn't know what kind of curse he had just laid down and he didn't care. He was ordered to kill or curse and that's all he cared about. He attacked quickly and efficiently. He barged between the two, knocking both on their backs. He bit the woman's arm and then the man's neck away from the jugular and the spine. Then, he howled in triumph and fled the palace, heading for his master's home.
"Well done, Adam, well done," Skeletor praised as the prince and the warriors gathered around the table the next morning, the prince on Skeletor's right.
"Thank you, Master. I have a couple of questions, though."
"Oh? And what might those be?"
"What happened last night and what kind of curse did I cause?"
"Excellent questions. I watched your actions on my view screen last night and can tell you that everyone in the palace is dead except for the cooks, two guards, Teela, and Man-At-Arms. The last four I just mentioned are under the same curse that you're under, Adam."
"They're wolves who will obey you." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yes. We will give Eternos a day to recover from the shock and mourn the king. Tomorrow, we will move into our new home: The Palace."
The warriors cheered, but Adam was silently contemplating what he had just done. He served Skeletor to keep his freedom and he further insured it by killing his parents and the guards who would have killed him. Those that survived the massacre would become werewolves who would obey Skeletor whether they wanted to or not. He could hardly believe what had happened: Almost everyone in the palace was dead.
So what, he thought. A part of me enjoyed the killing spree I went on: A large part. Another part of me, however, is horrified b
y the destruction and yet that part is very small and getting smaller. Hmm, you know, with four more wolves, Skeletor could definitely rule the planet.
The next day, the residents of Snake Mountain entered the Throne Room via a dimension gate. Skeletor then had Beast Man and Trap Jaw round up the survivors and have them brought to him before he and Evil-Lyn sat on the thrones and he ordered Adam to stand beside him.
The cooks, the guards, Teela, and Man-At-Arms were herded into the room and stood several feet away from the thrones' steps. "Greetings," Skeletor said. "I am your new king and Evil-Lyn here is your new queen. From this day on, you will serve us. Now, the cooks are to head back to the kitchen to prepare a lunch fit for a king. Go!"
The cooks hurried out of the room, not sure what punishment Skeletor might inflict on them for disobeying and not wanting to find out. Teela stepped forward once the cooks were gone. "You won't get away with this!" she said defiantly.
"I already have, Captain. The four of you will serve me as the cooks are doing now."
"That won't happen." Teela poised her body in a manner that suggested battle.
"Oh, it will happen. Teela, transform and obey." Skeletor pointed at her.
Adam watched with interest as Teela stiffened and stared blankly at Skeletor. He never really paid attention to his transformations and therefore was curious to see what takes place. Teela sprouted a coat of coal-black fur as a muzzle extended forward, full of sharp teeth and her ears turned pointed and traveled upwards. Claws extended from her hands and feet, the latter having conformed into paws and her legs bent into wolf legs. A tail swished behind her before she sank into a submissive bow.
"Teela," Duncan gasped at the sight of werewolf his daughter had become. He glared at Skeletor. "What have you done to her?"
"I did nothing. It was Adam when he bit all of you the other night. You all have no choice but to serve me when I order you. I will have a pack of obedient wolves with Adam as the leader." He looked at the prince.
Adam bowed his head. "I am honored, Master."
Skeletor nodded before saying, "Teela, go to the dungeons and take the others with you."
Teela rose and herded the others out as Skeletor looked at Beast Man and pointed at the retreating group, indicating that he should follow to lock them up. He turned back to his servant. "Adam, you should know that due to your actions the other night you will now remember what you do when you transform, except for the full moon. You will still be wild during those times and remember nothing."
Adam nodded, pleased with the news. His mass murder meant that he had joined the side of evil and when ordered to transform and sent out to attack, he would remember everything that occurred during that time. He doubted the others would unless they gave in to their werewolves' destructive natures.