Chapter Seven

Werewolf

My eyes snap open and I jump onto my feet without thinking. The air around me rustles up my back and trees surrounding me shake their branches violently. Something is coming and it isn't gonna be pretty. The air wraps itself around me. I gaze down to see I am once again wearing just my black bra and a pair of black leggings, another pair are wrapped around my leg ankle and a sports shirt is wrapped around my right. The scar caused by Luscious nearly three years ago is now very visible on my chest even though it had disappeared nearly two days after it was caused. Curiosity fills my mind as I trace the scar with my index finger. The ocean crashes behind me and I swiftly turn to face a creature so foul I cover my nose with my hand and close my eyes hoping to avoid it's stench for as long as possible. Minutes of silence drop countlessly between us. After a while I slowly drop my hand, open my eyes and examine the creature. There is roughly fifty yards between us. I focus closer on it and realise it is a he, and an amazingly hot he for that matter!

His ginger fly away hair blows freely in the air but it also appears to be in control of where it goes in the air. His chequered cow boy shirt is unbuttoned letting me view his six pack in its full glory, each abe glows in the setting sun's light. In fact his entire body is sparkling diamonds in the sun's setting light. His jeans are torn at a number of points letting diamond skin catch my eyes. His feet are bare and sparkle matching the rest of his body. I look back up at his eyes, they are shaded deadly red, I in fact can't see their irises due to the redness of his eyes. He smiles widely at me letting a row of razor sharp fangs glisten powerfully at me.

I tilt my head slightly to the right as a friendly smile stretches across my face. He leans his head back and laughs viciously.

"You have not figured out what I am yet have you werewolf child?" he asks meeting my gaze harshly.

A growl rushes from my throat. I crouch into the werewolf attack position. "Vampire!" I spit.

"Correct…dog"

"Bloodsucker! How dare you-" I begin to shake and I turn my eyes to the ground trying to control myself. My hands form fists and grab dry dirt scattered on the ground. I gasp for air beckoning it to my mouth but it stays far from me. I try to stand but crumbly back down to the ground before I even straighten my legs.

"Just give in dog. Become what you really are. Become filth. Become your fate. Join them, turn tail and run. You are nothing dog! Do you hear me? NOTHING! Your existance is a disgrace to…" his words begin to get lost over the ringing within my ears. I scream at my top level hurting both my voice and body. My hands clasp over my ears, but his voice still wriggles through. "…scum! Fight! Be the dog you are, be the filth you are! Fight dog, fight and dead!…" I slam my eyes shut and scream once more. I can feel my vocal cords squeaking together, morphing into another shape and as I scream the noise forcing its way through I aching throat changes, it is no longer a scream from a scared little girl but a howl from a freaky mutant girl. I open my eyes and the view around me is different. It is still the same location but I can see every little detail. My head shoots up, I peer into his eyes and I can clearly see his black irises in the centre on the red. He is still insulting me but no longer shouting, in fact the insulting has turned into encouragement "…that's it dog turn, yes! Perfect! Let it consume you, turn into your true self!" Pain inflames ears, I can feel them growing upwards. They form points and grow wider, I howl once more, this time at him. I wish he would just shut up! I can't calm down with him acting like the school bully. Wait! A way to end a bully is to over power them. Right if he wants to fight I'll give him a cage fight! I let go of myself and taking example from the vampire encourage myself to change into a werewolf. My arms pull inwards and pulse, they grow dramatically in length, growing new muscles and my legs lock in place nearing where they touch when you bend your legs. Muscles grow from them stretching my skin. I nuzzle my head into my chest trying to fight the pain that now consumes my entire body. A weird feeling clouds my mind as I muzzle into my chest. And that is what's clouding my mind, nuzzling. I was just in agonizing pain and now I am nuzzling calmly into my chest, what's happened? The pain has disappeared, calm is now inside me and my chest feels funny. I look down and see clear silver fur covering my body and streaks of ice white fur in between the silver. I stare at where my hands should be and realise they're paws. I raise the left paw, yea that's my paw alright, a scare runs through the middle of the underneath of the paw. A scar which has never seemed to heal, I got it when I was two and got hold of Luscious's pen knife. I set the paw down onto the ground and notice black claws appearing from where my fingers should be. I look forward and see a black rock in my way, I try to swat it away with my paw and feel a wince of pain when my paw collides with the black rock, the black rock wriggles and I feel confused.

That's your nose you half-dummy werewolf!

I growl harshly at my inner voice about to tell it to shut up when the vampire interrupts me rudely.

"Well, well, well, glad to see you survived your transformation dog. Now, let's see how you fight with your new body." he beckons me forward with his hand but I stay where I am. What? Does this vampire think I am that stupid?! "Very well dog if you won't come to me then I'll come to you." he throws himself forward landing a metre in front of my face and swipes for my face. I dodge his hand easily and attack his leg throwing myself onto him forcing him to the ground. I wish I knew what this freaks name is so that I can learn how to spell it correctly for his grave stone!

"My name? Very well, you may call me Frederick James young Catalie. And my name will not be engraved onto any grave stone any time soon let me assure you of that." he pushes me off of him easily and I smash against a nearby tree, pain erupts from my back and I scream in agony. I force myself to my feet and clear my head quickly. Okay, so this guy is a mind reader. Shit! So I've got to confuse him but how? "You can't young one. What ever you are thinking I know it before you even speak it!" he bellows slowly walking towards me. Shit! Now what? Where is my mum when I need her? Her intuition are amazing! Intuition? Ohmygod I love my mum!

Without thinking I lunge myself once more at Frederick's leg, he grabs the scruff of my neck and throws me near the cliff's edge. He clicks his neck and stretches his arms. I jump back on my feet and charge at his chest whilst he is unfocused. It works! Both him and I hit the ground hard sending shudders through my fur. Okay, whilst he's temporarily down I have a chance to figure out a plan. This guy is good because he knows what I am going to do before I do it. Take away his advantage, his only style of fighting and he's left at a disadvantage. If I blur my mid with nonsense and fight on instinct and intuition alone then his mind will become blurred and he will be left at a lose. Right, blur my mind. Why do I only now find that hard? Shit! Why can't this guy be just as boring as Mr. Jones my mathematics teacher? Perfect!

Frederick pushes me off of him and claps graciously. He nods in my direction and a growl of anger rips from my chest.

"Clever young one, very clever! Attack without thinking and take away my advantage. Let me inform you though that you aren't the first to try this method of fighting with me. Word of advice, they all think in the end. I force them into a position where they will have no other choice but think to try and escape. That will happen to you. I will force you into that position. And when I have this fight will end…and so will your life!" he finishes and takes a strong step forward.

I laugh a wolf laugh, Frederick stops walking and looks at me curiously. I lock his gaze and bare my teeth fiercely. I just wish I could talk because this would be the perfect time to quote my drama teacher. I am about to bark the quote at him when air swoops down my open mouth and fire rages within my throat. The sensation it causes is magical, my throat tingles for a few minutes, the fire senses and the air escapes through my nose.

What on Earth was that all about? I think to myself.

The elements changing your vocal chords. You can speak human English now so please do me a favour and quote Mr.D and throw this guy's ego into the ground!

My pleasure! I answer within my mind

"Do you really think I am that stupid bloodsucker?! Of course people will have tried that method of fighting on you before. They are fools if they haven't! But, quoting my drama teacher Mr. Daniels "You may create an idea thinking it is new but truth be it will have been done before in the past. Never think it hasn't. All you can ever do is develop on the past and create your own version of the idea." and that is exactly what I plan to do with this on!" I bark and run towards him. Confusion still scatters his face. Perfect. Now to put my developed idea into action. Lets figure out what 3624 divided by 2017 is.

Frederick regains his posture just in time to dodge my charge at him. He jumps highly into the air and lands softly on his feet. I rapidly halt and turn to face him.

"1.796727814." hisses Frederick glaring me in the eyes.

"Oh thanks" I chirp "that's my maths homework done."

"What?! You're in a fight with a vampire and all you can think about is maths homework dog?!" he questions.

"Yep. Well like my parents say "Your grades are important and maths is a key grade for getting a job." I wouldn't want to disappoint my parents now would I?" I ask rhetorically. Speaking of which I wonder what my parents are up to right now? Bet my dad is down the shed building and mum is probably watching The Jerry Springer Show.

Frederick pounces forward and rips at my face. I scream in agony as blood trickles down my face leaving a scarlet pattern behind it. Frederick traces the pattern down my face holding me down with his spare hand. He flicks the blood into my eyes, I close them quickly avoiding the blood. Frederick snickers menacingly. He grabs me by the scruff of my neck and hurls me into the cliff wall. My back smashes into the cliff wall, I land on my front heavily on the ground. Frederick smashes down on my back. My head shoots up from the pain, my body goes numb and my eye lids close unwillingly.

Open your eyes kid! Open them or die, your choice but frankly I'd rather live for a while longer.

Huh?

You are unconscious kid. The bastard slammed down full force on your back. Just please open your eyes kid. I am begging you to! I can't loose you! Not now!

Am I imagining this or does that sound like Luscious? I focus on the voice waiting for it to sound again but instead of hearing the pleading voice I hear feet scurrying around me. My eyes shake within their sockets. I use all of my strength to open them. It takes a while but they slowly raise showing me where I lay. The view is blurry and I can't make out much detail. A person is throwing brown lines into a pile, I think the person is Frederick. I raise my head and see an orange blob on top of the person. Yep, that's Frederick. Green triangles with brown bottoms circle around us. Grey, hairy lines lay in front of me. I shake my head getting annoyed by the crap vision from my eyes. I close them for a moment and then re-open them with a much better view. The person is definitely Frederick and the brown lines are twigs, the pile of them is huge! From this level it looks like a mountain almost. The green and brown images circling us both are trees. The grey, hairy lines are my paws.

Just stay down for a while longer but keep one eye open on Frederick.

Remind me why I am listening to you?

Because if you don't you are going to die! And remember any injures you sustain in this world you keep in the real world.

Fine! Now how long until I can move and get the hell out of here?

Right about…NOW!

On the voice's command I jump onto my paws and search quickly for an escape route. He head shoots around me looking rapidly but I can't find a single escape route in sight!

The trees are circling us both fully with a number of trees torn down and thrown on the floor creating a high wall of wood. I can unfortunately tell that the wall is way too high for me to jump, even in my werewolf form. Frederick jumps in front of me causing me to run from my fur from shock. He grabs my right paw and hurls me against one of the wood walls.

"Told you I would get you into this position dog." he spits.

God he's right. Why was I so stupid?! Now what can I do?

Listen to me.

"What?" I ask, not meaning to say it aloud.

Frederick slams me to the ground snapping my right paw in two. I howl in pain. "Are you deaf or what you dirty mutt?" he calmly asks.

Well, I've got a conversation going on in my head so you are kind of droned out a bit bloodsucker.

Listen kid this dork can't hear me so from now on its me thinking and you doing got that?

"Crystal clear" I say answering both the voice and Frederick.

"Good, now down to business." Frederick runs too fast for me to register, within seconds he's on the other side of the circle. "Try and escape dear Catalie." he nudges.

Fine! He wants a fight then I'll give him a fight. Just as I am about to head butt him between the legs a hole in the wall catches my eyes. I turn my attention to the hole. It is rather small but I could wriggle my way through it and be out of here. If I land about a metre in front of it I can propel myself through it with hopefully enough strength or I could stay here and fight bloodsucker butt. I decide to choose the lesser of the choices. I crouch down and push off strongly from my hind legs. Before I even get within touching distance of the hole Frederick appears in front of me, grabs my chest and hurls me in the opposite direction landing harshly into a tree. I slump to the floor winded and beaten. Frederick strides over, snaps off a branch thicker than both my paws and slams it down into my defenceless back. I howl in agony, tears swell up in my eyes but I blink them back, yes I am beaten but I won't give this vampire the extra satisfaction of seeing me cry. He smashes the branch down onto the base of my back causing me unimaginable pain. Frederick throws the branch to one side and raises his hands so his knife like nails glisten beautifully in the yellow sun.

I sigh gratefully, close my eyes and hope that it won't take long for death to consume me.

How greedy are you?

What?!

You give up now and you will be hurting every one you love. Luscious. Mum. Dad. All of your friends. And just because you can't be asked to get up and fight!

Look, I've tried my best. I just can't win with this guy. I am sorry. Now leave me to die!

You can't win you are right. You can't win by yourself. But you can win with my help now get the fuck off of the ground, shut the fuck up and listen to what I say.

But…

Don't question me kid. We work as a team. My thinking your instincts and intuition. NOW GET UP DOG!

At the sound of being called a dog everything seems to click into place. Me laying down here is me being greedy. I am going to hurt all those I love because of my lack of confidence in myself. When all of this is over I have so got to have a word with my brother-sounding inner voice.

"You ready to die dog?" asks Frederick with a grin the size of the Mississippi painted across his face.

"Not quite yet Freddy." I laugh and let my inner voice guide me.

Get on your feet and head butt him where it hurts.

"My pleasure!" I yell and charge at Frederick. He goes to grab my head but I duck just in time and throw my entire weight behind my head and hit him right between his legs. I thrust myself back quickly and watch Frederick fall to the ground in agony.

"For a dead guy it looks like you're still pumping something." I state and gallop over him like a show horse. "Okay, now what?" I ask the voice.

Turn around quickly and hit the floor.

I turn around and see Frederick on his feet and gaining speed heading right for me. I drop to the ground and acting on my instincts as well as the voice I thrust my hind legs high into the air just as Frederick is flying overhead sending him crashing into the dirt covered floor.

Good kid. Now run like a mutt over to that hole and wriggle free before this dick wakes up.

"No." I state heading in the direction of the fallen vampire.

No?! Kid this guy wants to kill you and you decide to throw away your chance to escape?

Ignoring the voice I carry on towards Frederick one paw at a time. I halt roughly two meters from his lifeless hand.

"Why do you want to kill me Frederick?" I ask. I leave him a few minutes to respond but when no words escape his lips I nudge him lightly with my front paw but still no response.

Listen kid you'd better do as I say as get the hell outta' here while you have the chance!

"Fine!" I bark at myself "But you've got some explaining to do later on. Deal?" I ask seriously.

Deal

Once the voice has muttered the word I turn tail on the vampire and run as fast as I can to the hole. I dive through head first and have to wriggle my big wolf sized butt out of the hole in the end. I come out into a large deserted clearing. I half expect vampires to ambush me but after a while of standing still I figure no to the vampire ambush.

A howl from a distance catches my ears and my head turns east to the sea focusing on the howl. The wolf is too far a distance away for me to fully hear their cry, I begin to turn back and run home when an idea hits me.

"Wind of the forest, I call to you. Send the cries of the fallen to my ears so I may help them gain peace." I command seriously. I don't expect anything to happen but as soon as the command has left my lips the howl becomes louder and seems to be coming from right in front of my face. The tune of the howl sounds so familiar but before I can match it to a face the howling cuts out. I wait for it to start again but with no success.

I run in the direction of my home with all of my might. The howl still circling inside my head ringing my ears. I near the end of my run when I can finally put a face and a name to the howl of a lost one.

"Mum?"