Early in the morning, Cody woke up and the first thing he saw was Bailey's face. He took a moment or two to remember where they were: a decent hotel in New Orleans. It was Saturday. Cody watched Bailey sleep and pulled her unconscious body closer to him underneath the warmth and safety of the bed sheets. He kissed her forehead, nose, cheeks and her eyes. He then kissed her shoulders, collar bone and her neck. Bailey stirred and happily mumbled something while she kept on dreaming. Cody lightly nibbled on Bailey's earlobes. Bailey opened up her eyes.

"Cody, what are you doing?"

"I was trying to wake you up in a nice way."

"Thank you. Were you kissing me?"

"Yes."

"Did you miss a spot?"

"Maybe."

"Then get it."

Cody leans in and kisses Bailey on the lips. She brings her arms around his neck and holds onto his head, lightly pulling onto his golden locks. The two of them part from the kiss once they realize that they need to get out of bed and head out. Cody didn't want to break the lip lock but Bailey had the mind to stop it. She gently pushed him away.

"We need to get ready. You need to be cured."

"You're right."

Bailey reached down and felt around Cody's well-toned rear end.

"Bailey, what are you doing?"

Bailey couldn't feel any fur protruding from Cody's butt.

"I was just checking if your tail was still around. It seems to me that your tail went away."

"Really? Or do you think that I have what girls would say 'a cute ass'?"

"That too but I was focusing on your tail, you goof."

Bailey then playfully slaps Cody's rear end and gets out of bed. She reaches down and gets out some fresh clothing. As she dresses, Cody watches her grinning.

"Is it a good thing to have an attractive body?"

"Not really. Although, it could be considered as icing on the cake."

"So, Bailey, what do you want in a guy or do I have chance to be your guy if I am a normal guy? What do you look for in a guy? Just out of curiosity."

Bailey ignores Cody's inquiry and finishes changing. She then packs up her bag before she stands up and faces Cody.

"Come on, Cody. Get out of bed, wolf boy."

Cody grunted.

"Cody, I know you behaved yourself the best you could and I gave you a treat, but now you have to keep on behaving yourself."

Cody grunted again but then hopped out of bed and got dressed, quickly. As he pulled up his boxers and pants, he cleared his voice.

"Bailey, you didn't answer my question."

"Why do you care? You should focus on being a full human again."

"I know. I just thought that I would think of possible outcomes for my future and I was hoping if we made an effort that you would be part of my future."

"We can worry about that later, Cody. Besides, why are you so interested in knowing what we'll do later, now?"

Cody threw on his black t-shirt, socks and shoes. Now, it was his turn to ignore Bailey's questioning.

"Let's just get out of here. You can go back to your family farm after all of this and I won't bother you any more if you want that."

"Cody? What's wrong with you today?"

"Nothing's wrong with me. Come on, Bailey, we're burning day light."

Cody walked over to the door and opened it. Bailey slung her bag over her shoulders and followed Cody out of the hotel room. They went down to the lobby and left the hotel. They looked around until they found a voodoo shop. They went inside and asked the shop keeper of any reports of residents using voodoo spells. The man asked what their situation was and Cody told him that he was put under a curse by mistake and was turned into a werewolf. The man considered the situation and thought of people he knew who might know how to help Cody. He gave Cody and Bailey directions to three possible shop keepers who knew about voodoo spells and charms better than he knew them. Once they got their information, Cody and Bailey thanked the man and then left his shop. The two of them went to the first two locations that the man told them to go to, but luck did not follow them. They tried the third shop in the heart of the French Quarter and looked around for the shop keeper. After a short period of searching, Cody and Bailey stumbled upon an elderly woman. She had patches of white and gray hair blending with red in a neat braid covered with a blue and purple head scarf. Crow's feet were forming near her stormy eyes. She stood at five feet and three inches and wore glasses and a short sleeved purple dress with brown sandals. The elderly woman smiled at Cody and Bailey as she walked behind the counter.

"Hello, you two. What may I do for you?"

Cody approached the counter with determination heavy in the three steps that it took to come closer to the old woman.

"I need help."

"What sort of help?"

"I was unfortunately cursed to be a werewolf. I barely have maintained my human conscious the more frequently that I turn into a wolf."

"What do you fear most of becoming a full-fledged werewolf?"

"Forgetting about the people that I care about, killing and eating innocent people and not being able to go back to my old life and pursue a higher education and make myself useful in society."

"Ah, I see. Those topics are very much worth worrying about, especially for a young man like you who has so much promise ahead of your future. Who are the people that you care about most in this world?"

Cody briefly looked back to Bailey before he gave the elderly woman an answer.

"I care about my parents, my good friends and even my screw up of a twin brother."

"You resent your brother."

"Yes."

:"I know. I sense that he's the reason why you're here today in front of me."

"Yes."

"But you still love him."

"Unfortunately, yes."

"You are a good brother to him. You will receive the rewards that you deserve in good time. Some may come sooner than others."

"So, can you help me lift the curse?"

"Yes. But you must tell me the whole truth of who you dearly care about. I know that you held back because you are shy."
Cody mumbled.

"Don't be shy even if she is behind you. Those who are the most honest with themselves and with others will find great joy and fortune in their lives. Now, tell me boy. Did you leave out any names?"

"I left out one name."

"Good, good. Say their name."

Cody turned around to face Bailey.

"Bailey."

Bailey snapped her head up and looked at Cody.

"Yeah?"

The elderly woman laughed and pushed her glasses up. "Bailey."

Bailey looked at Cody and the old woman with a confused look on her face.

"Boy, you may turn back around."

Cody turned back around.

"I'm sorry, but I'm confused. Why did you two say my name?"

The elderly woman smiled at Bailey.

"Young lady, did you not hear clearly? The young man in front of you included you as one of few people that holds dear to his heart."

Bailey gawked at Cody. She was happy and confused that he respected her and cared about her. She never was very clear on how he truly felt about her but now she knew. Cody pretended not to notice Bailey's penetrating stare on him and focused on the elderly woman.

"So, now can you help me?"

"Yes. Come with me."

The elderly woman walks away from behind the counter and walks into a room where there are potions and spells and candles in an array of different colors, shapes and sizes. She sat down at a round table and Cody sat down across from her. The elderly woman then pulled up a stool off to the side for Bailey sit down in. Bailey sat down and thanked the elderly woman. The elderly woman proceeded to light a few candles and then looked at Cody.

"Now, give me your hands."

Cody did as he was told.

"By the way, why did you need to know who I care about most in this world?"

"I can tell if you've been cursed if you open up your heart to me and that means exposing your true feelings about people in your life to me. I need a good reading on who you are as a person."

"Okay."

The elderly woman took Cody's firm hands in her soft and wrinkled ones and closed her eyes. She hummed for two minutes and then opened her eyes. She stared straight in Cody's eyes.

"You still have a chance to be free of this curse."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"What has to be done?"

"I'll tell you in a second."

The woman then looked over at Bailey.

"Bailey, come here and put your hands over ours."

Bailey came over to the table and placed her hands over the elder woman's and Cody's.

"Good. Now let me feel the two of yours energy."

The elderly woman closed her eyes again and waited for a moment before her eyes opened again. She looked between Cody and Bailey.

"You two have a special bond. You two have gone through a very trying journey to come here but both of you are determined to lift the curse. I know what I must do now."

The elderly woman pulled her hands away from Cody and Bailey and made some potion. In the meantime, Cody and Bailey waited not realizing that they were still holding hands over the table.

Once the elderly woman had the potion ready, she poured it into two individual bottles. She then returned to the table and gave Cody and Bailey a bottle.

"You two need to drink the potion at the same time. But before you drink the potion, you have to share a kiss with each other signifying your special bond with another. Once you two have done that, think of one thing that you can't live without and then drink the potion. If the potion works, then the curse will be lifted."

Bailey looked at the elderly woman.

"How will we know if Cody is no longer a werewolf?"

"Bailey, you must stay with Cody and watch over him once you leave my shop. Look out for certain sign. Will he want raw meat? Will he want to eat human flesh? Will he becomes aggressive and have fangs and claws? If he shows no signs of being a werewolf then he is cured. If that will be the case then you don't have to come back to me. Only come back to me the next day if the curse hasn't lifted yet."

"Okay. But how will our special bond help break the curse."

"It's because only a person who is capable of giving a receiving love deserves to have their livelihood as a human restored because humans are sensitive and loving beings. If he is not capable of being love and loving others then Cody is befitting of remaining as a monster or, in this case, a werewolf. It's as simple as that."

"Oh. That makes sense."

"Now give each other a kiss like you mean it, think of something you can't live without and then drink the potion."

"Alright."

Cody and Bailey lean in. They're about to kiss but then Cody drew back and turned toward the elderly woman.

"Why do we need to kiss?"

"To prove yourself of being a true human, you must exhibit two things: passion and compassion."

"Oh…"

"Now kiss."

"Alright."

Cody sets down his bottle for the moment and quickly pulls Bailey body to his for a passionate kiss. She melts in the kiss and closes her eyes. Cody tilts his head to the side to deepen it and keeps a firm grip on Bailey's waist. After a minute, Cody pulls away to break the kiss. Bailey steps back. Cody picks up his bottle.

"Now think of something that you can't live without and then drink. And remember, you two have to drink the whole potion."

Cody and Bailey both think of something or someone that they can't live without. When they have thought of something, they drink their potions at the same time. As soon as they have drank every last drop of the purple liquid that tasted of lavender and thyme, Cody and Bailey placed the bottles on the table. Cody looked at the elderly woman.

"Now what?"

"You wait. You may want to say in the city for the night to let the potion take its full effect. Don't be alarmed if you still have wolf tendencies. The potion will take at least eight hours to affect both your bodies."

"Why both of our bodies?"

"Because you two drank the potion which makes you two connected. During the time that you two wait for the potion to work, you two may as well bond with each other and learn to be patient. You have to see through with your commitment of the ritual or else the curse won't be lifted. You two can't just show me that there is passion and compassion in both of your souls for a short period of time, you two have to keep on exhibiting passion and compassion. Behave like two normal humans with understanding and love in your hearts and passion in your souls. Every moment counts while you two wait to let the potion set in."

"Okay."

"Bailey."

:"Yes, ma'am?"

"If you see Cody becoming aggressive toward you or has the urge to eat some raw meat or human flesh before the eight hours are over, do your best to keep him in check."

"I will."

"Good."

Cody stepped closer to the elderly woman.

"What do we do now? Do we owe you anything?"

"That won't be necessary. I'm just glad to help you."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive."

"Ma'am?"

"Yes?"

"What do you suppose I should do about my shock collar and tracking bracelet?"

Cody showed the elderly woman his collar and bracelet. She examined them for a moment or two.

"For the collar, I would suggest that you get bolt cutters and for the bracelet, just get a screwdriver to undo the screws and you should be free."

"Okay. Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome. Good luck, you two."

Cody waved goodbye to the elderly woman and so did Bailey. For the rest of the day, the two young adults would spend time together until the potion would settle in.

To Be Continued…