What? What the hell is happening? Warmth flooded me. It filled my entire being as if a bright light covered me inside and out. With a sudden jerk, my body welcomed me back and...I felt that, for once, my body was a perfect fit for me. I took a jolting breath, feeling my ribs knit back together painlessly. There was a faint pull as the wound in my shoulder mended and I heard the bullet dropping into the snow. I felt myself being pulled to my feet, my body readjusting itself. The whole time that this was happening, I heard the Werewolf yelling, screaming and howling in pain. There was a sensation of my skin being pulled away, but it was almost a relief. As if I could now stretch and move...like it was too tight before. My head pulled back as my neck adjusted, my face no longer stretched and contorted. My whole being seemed to relax and the Werewolf was muted, I never heard him again. It was like the last puzzle piece had slipped into place. I finally felt...right...whole.

I felt my feet on the ground...and I hesitantly opened my eyes, taking a deep breath that filled my ribcage without the slightest pain. I stood frozen for an instant, unable—or unwilling—to comprehend what had just happened. That's when I didn't see it! My black snout was gone! I lifted my hands to my face. They were perfect...human hands! My hands...I stared at them in disbelief, turning them over and over. No horrid black claws; no thick black fur. I stared down at myself; I was still clothed in the items I had warn as a Werewolf, except the shirt, but...this was...my body. Was I taller than I had been? I couldn't tell. I looked down at the ground; the shirt laid there all tore up. My long smoky-black hair hung loose around my shoulders and...I brushed a strand away with a shaking hand. The curse was broken...it had really happened. I pulled my cape closer to me because of the snow. I almost looked like a fairy-tale vampire...without the pointed teeth.

I heard gasping behind me. I turned my head around, only enough where she could only see my eyes. Sapphire was so shocked and stunned; the color of her eyes almost filled the whole eyeball. Sapphire seemed to be struggling to breathe, but...I knew she was in shock. I turned completely around and we stared at each other. We didn't make any moves to each other until she was ready. I felt the wind starting to pick up; Sapphire's red hair flowed as the snow was blowing to the left. She made one step towards me, but when I made one stop toward her, Sapphire took the step back. I didn't make anymore sudden moves; I didn't care if we were in the freezing snow, I was going to let her move when she was ready.

Sapphire continued to stare at me. I could now tell she was confused, but it didn't stop her being afraid. She started to make a few steps towards me. I could tell she was cautious when she was only arm's length from me. In a sudden rush of emotion. I pulled her tightly into my arms. She was stiff, as if she was frozen. I didn't care if she scratched or even stabbed me with her needle hands. I didn't want to let her go, I didn't want to lose Sapphire again.

"S-Sagittarius?" I heard her ask in a shy voice. I slowly released Sapphire, but I left my hands on her upper arms. I smiled at her, even through she was still in shock.

"You did it." I told her, "The curse is broken, Sapphire. I'm free!"

"I-I-I can't believe it." She said. I can tell she was still in a little bit of shock, but it was fading away. "I thought you were gone."

"I thought I was," I said, "but you broke the spell...when you said...you said you loved me." I saw the color rise in her face; I think she was embarrassed.

"You...weren't kidding that...you're a human." She said embarrassingly.

"Why would I lie about something like that?"

"Good point," Sapphire said, "but...now that you're in...human skin, you seem...somewhat familiar." That's when I started being a little worried.

"Well, a lot of people would recognize me if they saw me now." I admitted. I knew that I would have to tell Sapphire the truth.

"Sapphire!" We both heard. "Sapphire, where are you?" Sapphire became very afraid as she started walking back from me, but I held her hands. We both knew that was Dismal's voice.

"This isn't good." Sapphire said, with a hint of fear in her voice.

"I won't let him near you!" I pushed, but then we heard another voice.

"Dismal, Stop!" That was Rizal's voice!

"Get it through your thick head!" Dismal said, "Sapphire is still in the hand of that monster!"

"Dang it, Dismal!" Rizal pushed, "Sapphire trusts him, and if she trusts him, then I trust him!"

"Oh Wonderful," Dismal said in a sarcastic voice, "now I have two people under that werewolf's magic." It wasn't long until Dismal and Rizal came around the corner and saw us. Sapphire was so scared that she went behind my back, hoping that I would protect her. All I did was just angrily stare at Dismal. I wasn't going to forgive him for everything he put both of us through. I also noticed that the two of them stood there gaping at me; I wasn't too pleased.

"What's the matter with the two of you?" I asked; Rizal really couldn't say anything, but Dismal did.

"Oh good lord, high and mighty!" He said in a shocked voice. I looked behind me and noticed that Sapphire was coming out from behind me, with her hood over her face and her hands hiding in her sleeves. She looked straight at the two brothers.

"What's wrong with the two of you?" She asked as she stood by my side.

"Sapphire," Dismal said worriedly, "do you know who that is?"

"What...do you mean by that?" She asked.

"That's his highness, Prince Sagittarius Rainier: the lost son of King Randolph Rainier!" He finally blurted out. Now I know I was going to be in big trouble. I know that I told Sapphire that I was human...but I didn't tell her that I was a prince. The next thing I heard...was Sapphire laughing, thinking that Dismal was lying to her.

"Dismal," Sapphire said, still laughing, "I think your eyes need adjustments. Sagittarius isn't royalty!"

"I can see fine!" He pushed, "That is King Randolph Rainier's son!"

"I don't think so," she said; then she looked at me, "tell him that he's wrong!" I didn't know what to say, I just stayed silent. I saw Sapphire's face slowly drop, realizing that Dismal was telling the truth about me. I could tell that she was trying to hold tears back as she took a deep breath. "I knew...you looked familiar." She softly said. Just seeing her getting ready to cry was breaking my heart.

"I didn't know how to tell you." I admitted. It was true: I really didn't how to tell her that the Werewolf she cared about was the prince of this land.

"Don't...say another word." She said; then she turned around and walked off towards the pasture. I watched her walk away, but I quickly turned my attention back at Dismal and Rizal.

"Thanks for giving that away!" I said in a angry and sarcastic voice.

"Your majesty, I-" Rizal said, but I interrupted him.

"Not you!" I said; then I looked over at Dismal. "Your stupid brother!"

"I didn't mean to-" Dismal said in a frightened voice, but I interrupted again.

"Yes you did!" I shouted at him. I may not be the Werewolf, but I know when to be angry. "You better not move from this spot! Neither of you! I'll be back!" I walked away from them and walked in the direction Sapphire was going. I wanted to apologize to her for not telling her the whole truth about me. I was now starting to feel the cold in my feet. I forgot that I was still barefooted, but I didn't care at the moment.

I found Sapphire, sitting on the top of the pasture's fence and petting Snowflake's nose. She was staring up into the cold sky. The wind blew her hood off and I noticed that most of her red hair was covered in white snow. I took a deep breath, walked over to her and sat next to her on the fence. Snowflake decided to turn around and leave us alone. Sapphire's needle hands rested in her lap and in her hands was the black glass rose that I had given her before she left me. Her eyes were closed and her face was wet from tears.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked as she finally looked at me. She then closed her eyes again and dropped her head. "I thought...you trusted me."

Sapphire...I wanted to tell you, I really did." I pushed. She then opened her eyes and looked straight into mine.

"Then why didn't you?" She asked again.

"I was...afraid." I finally admitted. "I thought you wouldn't believe me."

"I should've known." She said, "Your name was Sagittarius, the same name as King Randolph's kid. I should've put it together. That just proves how stupid I was." Hearing her say that she was stupid made me feel shocked.

"How dare you call yourself that!" I said.

"You know that it was dumb for me for not putting it together." Sapphire pushed as she handed the black glass rose back to me. "Here, I...think you would want to have it back." I saw how gently she was holding the glass rose in her needle hands. I just couldn't take it back. I gently grabbed her hands and pushed them back to her chest.

"No, Sapphire," I told her as I looked at her blue eyes. "I wanted you to keep it. You don't have to give it back." Sapphire raised her right hand and brushed the snow out of her red hair. Her hand was like a comb, melting the snow and smoothing out her hair. When she looked back at me...I finally saw the love she had for me.

A chill breeze stirred up...and while it seemed that some sort of residual magic was keeping me warmer than I ordinarily would be, I moved to draw the cloak tighter around us. The motion caught the corner of my eye...and my stomach lurched as I realized what I was seeing. Glaring against the furless skin on my forearm...were three dark red lines: smooth scar tissue marking the jagged gouges from the bear attack. I stared at it. The scars stood out on my arm like a beacon. Where once the fur had somewhat covered them, they now shockingly stood out against the smooth skin.

I couldn't explain why my heartbeat soared as I stared at it. This scar...I didn't know why I had assumed it would vanish with my wolf frame. It was like I had been branded, though my life as a Werewolf was over, I could never fully escape it. Even though the Werewolf was gone, I had a reminder...of what he had tried to do. At least...this battle with the Werewolf...has been silenced.

"What's wrong?" Sapphire asked; I looked back at her. Wordlessly, I showed her the scar. She didn't say a word. She just looked back at me instead.

"Well done, Prince Sagittarius." We both heard. We was so surprised by the voice that both, Sapphire and I, fell off the fence. We got back up on our feet, brushed off the snow and looked to the side. There was Rosetta, the person who turned me into the Werewolf, with a pendent moving back and forth in her hand. "I'm very happy for you." She said; I glanced quickly at Sapphire. She was watching Rosetta with a look of confusion, but her eyes flicked back at me and I thought she understood. I shook my head and looked back at Rosetta.

"Why are you back?" I asked her.

"I'm back to apologize again...and that I'm happy that you're free." Rosetta answered, I think she saw the confusion on my face. "I don't like seeing people under my spell for the rest of their lives...especially when it's a spell not meant for them. I promised you that I would help you in any way I could. Who do you think helped Sapphire get back here?"

"That was you?" Sapphire asked.

"I disguised my voice." Rosetta explained, "I had to. You were already lost and you didn't need someone new to scare you." I looked at Sapphire, her mouth was opened with astonishment. I wasn't sure if she wanted to hug Rosetta or slap her. Rosetta looked back at me. "I suppose you'd like to know my decision involving that scar on your arm? I felt it was important to have you keep it. You see, even though that curse I placed on you was an accident, you had a test to pass yourself. The Werewolf that was taking control of you, trying to drive a wedge between you and Sapphire, was created by the sadness and anger in your heart from what happened between you, your cousin and that woman." I was starting to get mad when Rosetta mentioned Kaeyln.

"Don't you dare...bring her up with Sapphire around!" I pushed.

"Sorry. Anyway, the test was about self control...and you passed it, Prince Sagittarius. The night you got that scar was a turning point for you; it stopped the Werewolf from taking easy control over you. You no longer have to worry about him. When the curse broke, he was destroyed along in the process." I smiled at her. Even though she placed this spell on me by accident, she kept her word about helping me...and her promise of the aging process. Rosetta then looked over at Sapphire; she took a step back. Rosetta walked up to her and wanted to place the pendent on Sapphire's neck. Sapphire pulled out one of her needle hands and pointed it at Rosetta.

"Please," Sapphire said, "keep your distance." I saw the look on Rosetta's face, her face had dropped and her eyes widen. She stared at Sapphire's needle hand. She looked back at Sapphire's face. Rosetta almost wanted to touch Sapphire's face.

"How did the Black Witch get a hold of you?" Rosetta asked, "She's been dead for over a century."

"Whom are you talking about?" Sapphire asked. It was clear that neither of us knew what Rosetta was talking about.

"The Black Witch was known for her selfish desires and her curses." Rosetta explained, "Whenever somebody crossed her path or never gave her what she wanted, she would pull out her magic knife and inflict cursed markings on her victims' bodies." Sapphire raised her head in the air. I think I had a good idea on what she was thinking.

"She must've been the witch that...killed my three-times great grandmother...and placed the family curse on my two-times great grandmother."

"If I had to make a guess," Rosetta said, "the Black Witch wanted something and your ancestor wouldn't give it to her?"

"This...black and white cloak I'm wearing." Sapphire answered, "The curse has affected the first girl in my family from my two-times great grandmother all the way down to me."

"I wish I could help you," Rosetta said, "but there's nothing I can do to get rid of it."

"It doesn't affect me as much anymore." She said as she smiled; then she looked at me. "Thanks to Sagittarius." I felt my chest tightening; I was almost struggling to breathe. All I did was tell Sapphire that the markings on her face and the needles making her body didn't make her who she is.

"Sapphire," Rosetta said, "I would like for you to have this pendent." She unclasped the pendent and placed it on Sapphire's neck. The pendent was black with a glass cover. There was something white in the middle of the pendent. I looked at the white part in astonishment. I began to ask.

"Is that the...?"

"The last petal from the enchanted white rose." Rosetta finished, "What I have seen between you two is great true love. This petal will not die or fade...and I hope you love will not." Suddenly, Rosetta disappeared in a cloud of pink smoke. Sapphire stared at the pendent; knowing her, she was probably think what was next for her.

Just then, Snowflake bumped her in the back with his nose. Sapphire turned around, smiled and scratched his forehead. He then looked at me. I wasn't so sure if he would still see me as the Werewolf or not. Snowflake walked over to me and gently laid his nose on my shoulder.

"He recognizes you." Sapphire said. I just smiled and petted Snowflake's neck. Just then, we heard a whinny; it didn't come from Snowflake. I quickly turned around; I couldn't believe it. I saw Midnight running towards me. She was back as the black horse I remembered before the curse...and by how fast she was galloping, she was getting ready to jump. I quickly pushed Sapphire to the ground and we ducked. Midnight jumped over us and the pasture fence. "I've got a few words for you, Sagittarius: you have one fast horse!"

"I know." I said as I helped her out of the snow. I looked back at Midnight. She was trying to rear up; the only reason Midnight would rear up is because she excited. "She's excited at the moment." I told Sapphire, "I can just tell."

"Probably because...she's back as a horse." Sapphire said; Midnight raised her head high in the air and nodded it up and down. She then looked over at Snowflake and walked up to him, but he walked a few steps back. My best guess: Snowflake, being a male horse, must've really liked Midnight. She got closer to Snowflake until he was backed up against the fence. To our surprise, Snowflake and Midnight rubbed their heads against each other. I smiled at the sight, our horses were like us...in love.

I looked back at Sapphire; she was walking in the direction where I left Rizal and Dismal. I wasn't sure about following her, but there's no way that I was going to let Dismal bad-mouth Sapphire if he saw her face and needle limbs. I followed closely behind her. Sapphire knew I was behind her, but I gave her enough room to be at a safe distance. As we got back to the area, Dismal and Rizal were still there. When I saw Dismal again, the rage that I had before had returned. I was about to unleash it, but I felt something ram into and I fell into the snow.

"Sagittarius!" I heard Sapphire say; then I saw her standing over me. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine." I said, still feeling like I was pushed down.

"It's nice to see you in human skin, Sagittarius." I heard. That was a female voice...and it wasn't Sapphire's voice. I raised my head up...and I saw Lilla for the first time in twelve years. I recognized her long blond hair, but the one thing that would make anybody recognize her...were her eyes. Lilla's eyes were quite different than anyone else's...and that's because Lilla has one green eye and one blue eye.

"Lilla," I said as I was getting up, "don't do that again." The next I knew, Lilla came over and bear-hugged me.

"Aren't you happy to actually see me?" She asked; I was happy to be looking at her again, but I was concerned.

"Lilla," I said as I looked over at Sapphire, who was just staring at me, "not in front of Sapphire!" I pushed Lilla off me, but I didn't yank her off. I didn't want Sapphire feeling more uncomfortable if she was thinking about how lovely Lilla was.

"I knew you would do it, Sagittarius." I heard a male voice say. I recognized that voice anywhere. I turned around...and Brimley stood there smiling at me. He had his blue suit on...just like how I remembered him. He came over and patted hardly on my back. "I never gave up on you, Sagittarius." He added.

"I'm glad none of you did." I said with a small smile.

"Uh...sire," Lilla said, "I don't mean to make you worry...but where did Sapphire pop to?" I looked around...almost worried because not only was Sapphire gone, so were Rizal and Dismal. The thought that the two of them...or Dismal alone took Sapphire was making my rage flare up again. I looked down and saw her 'needle footprints' in the snow. I told Lilla and Brimley to stay where they were for the moment and I followed the footprints. I saw them among another set of footprints. My guess? They belonged to Rizal and Dismal. I didn't walk far until I heard Sapphire's voice. I peeked around the corner and saw her talking to Rizal and Dismal...and to my surprise...her hood was off her head.

"Rizal," she said, "at least you know I'm safe."

"Of course," Rizal answered, "I know that for sure." I saw Sapphire's head turn over to Dismal. He wore an expression like someone had just placed a dead cat on his table and proclaimed dinner served. He also looked disgusted...my guess is that it was from looking at Sapphire's face.

"As for you, Dismal," she said, "I really don't know what to say to you. You don't even deserve to stand in front of me."

"Look who's talking!" Dismal pushed, "You're the freak here!" When I heard that, I was about ready to go over to him and punch him in the face...but I saw Sapphire point her right needle hand extremely close to his neck. His face turned into one full of fear. "Wait a minute, Sapphire." He then said in fear. "I-I-I-I didn't mean what I said."

"No...I think you did." She said, "Nobody can bring me down about what I look anymore! So go ahead and call me names, you never know what price you have to pay once you say it...especially with Sagittarius near me." I couldn't tell if she figured it out that I was right around the corner, listening in.

"By the way you phrased that, Sapphire," Rizal commented, "it sounds like you've chosen Sagittarius." You know what? It did sound like she phrased it that way. The last thing that I heard Sapphire say to Dismal and Rizal is that they should return home and forget about the Werewolf. I didn't think that they would keep their mouths shut about that, especially Dismal. When he asked about the Werewolf, Sapphire threatened him again with her needle tips almost touching his neck. He quickly said that he'll keep his mouth shut and, considering the look on his face, he plans to keep it that way.

After that, I thought back to the way Sapphire phrased her words. If that was true...I would feel like the luckiest man standing. I loved Sapphire...she loved me back...I would love...to marry Sapphire. The thought alone was making me warm. I wouldn't be surprised if my face was flushed red by the idea. I heard someone clear their throat. It brought me back to reality...only to find Sapphire standing next to me as I was leaning against the wall.

"Sapphire!" I quickly said as I stood up straight. "Ah...um..." I really couldn't say anything...and I think Sapphire knew that.

"Dismal's leaving." She said, "Rizal wants to stay here."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"He said he wants to offer his services to you and to protect me, but I don't believe him."

"Why else would he want to stay here?" I asked her.

"Take a look over there." She answered as she pointed to the right. I turned around and saw Rizal holding Lilla's hand. Her face was flushed and she was doing a high-pitch giggle. Sapphire and I didn't make any comment about Rizal and Lilla.

After that, my human legs carried me easily through the castle that they had last strode twelve years ago. I found myself outside my bedroom...with Sapphire close behind. She moved toward me...and then hesitated...I knew why too. This...human body...though it was mine...was strange to me. I hadn't been human for twelve years. Even though it was familiar to me, I did think I had aged some...as Rosetta promised. I was not entirely comfortable in my human form...I couldn't expect Sapphire to be either. Despite all that had happened...she still saw a stranger looking back.

"Good night, Sagittarius." She said as she turned back down the hall. Thought I understood, I felt a twinge of disappointment as I eased the door shut, watching her continue on the way down the hallway. Sapphire was walking very slowly...as I felt sadness and disappointment in the air.

"Good night, Sapphire." I whispered as I closed the door.

Hey readers, I'm now on summer vacation. Despite that, updates will still be on Saturday nights/Sunday mornings.