Wolf Soul

Chapter 11

I thought of the rabbit once more. Despite all its speed and agility it cowers when a predator is near until it's too late. I would be no such prey. My hand tightened over the hilt of my blade ready for what may come.

Laughter sounded to my left, out of the shadows the silhouette of a man approached. "You think you can harm me? Do you not recognize me, Aira?" The familiar yet not voice questioned.

He stepped into the filtered light. "Nathanial?" He'd grown so tall since I'd last seen him. His dark hair was shorn reaching just below his ears. Being Marcus' cousin it wasn't surprising to find the similarities between them. Same strong jaw line and high cheekbones, nearly identical curve of the lips. Yet Nathanial had grown taller and broader with bulkier muscles. The scar I'd given him stretched across his left cheek; marking him as the boy I once knew. Part of me felt happiness at seeing a former friend yet the memories surrounding our parting tainted the happiness.

His eyes flickered up and down my body. "You've...grown."

I wanted to turn my back on him, walk away as if he didn't matter but doing so would be foolish. "What do you want?"

He grasped his chest as if he truly were pained. "Can't an old friend just come by to chat?"

"You're no more a friend to me than starvation."

He clicked his tongue then took a step closer. "Still haven't lost your bite," He snapped his teeth together. "Have you? I assume your hostility means you haven't forgiven me?"

"You were cruel as a child. Can you tell me that has changed?" I couldn't help but think back to all the animals he'd killed for sport; ripping open their stomachs to give them a slow painful death. He didn't even eat them, just left them, ungrateful for the life they lost. He even boasted of killing a girl from the village below, once. Whether he did or not I do not know. "What do you want?"

His smile revealed the sharpness of his teeth once more. He was toying with me even now. "I want many things, little witch." He paused. "Power, mostly. I like power." He began to circle. "I always suspected Marcus had stronger feelings for you than he let on." Nathanial laughed. "What a pathetic excuse for a wolf he is." His eyes never left me. "It was just a happy coincidence that I came across you two tonight. You ought to be more careful; anyone could have seen you."

"What are you going to do?" I weighed the options of attacking him now or waiting him out. Could I do it though? Could I kill him when no one would believe he meant me any harm?

He stopped circling and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "He can't actually enjoy kissing you; soft, weak, prey." He smile widened. "I should just kill you both. That's what the elders would do. But, when the fun is over, I've gained nothing!" He chuckled. "What to do, what to do..." Suddenly he lunged forward with animal speed grabbing my wrists and holding me tightly against him. I squirmed but it was no use, I was as trapped as a rabbit. His hot breath against my ear sent my stomach rolling. "For so long I've wanted to taste your blood." He licked from my chin to temple, "I was angry you got away all those years ago."

I tried to turn the blade in my hand but his grip on my wrist only tightened. "I should have cut out your heart then."

"So, we both have regrets about that day." He smiled against my flesh. "I won't deny that I've grown to love the mark you gave me."

"Let me give you another one then."

He pulled back, staring into my eyes. "It truly is a shame you are not a wolf. I would choose you to rule by my side."

Rule? What did he mean?

"You've always been strong despite all your limitations." He tore the blade from my hand. "How can we talk with you pointing this at me?" He took my arrows as well casting them far from us. Now weapon less he released me, slowly taking a step back.

"What are you going to do?" I fought the urge to leap forward.

He leaned against a tree, his eyes never leaving me. "I always felt you and I had more in common than Marcus."

I couldn't help but laugh. It was a ridiculous thing to say. "You and me?"

He smiled as if it made complete sense. "Yes. You were always so focused on the hunt. Are you still? It's a pity you don't kill with teeth and claws though."

"I'm not like you."

"Oh but you are." The madness returned to his eyes. "You just don't know it."

I was growing tired of him, my fear completely gone. "Tell me then."

He clicked his tongue once more. "It's more fun if you come to it on your own."

I shrugged. "If you have nothing more to say I'll be leaving." I stared back into his eyes silently challenging him to stop me. He nodded then collected my belongings.

"Scamper off little witch," he pressed the bone hilt of my blade into my hand. I didn't realize I was shaking until he brought my other hand up to his lips pressing a kiss into the skin. My hand dropped to my side when he released it and backed away into the darkness. "Aira," he called from a distance. "I'll see you soon."

I didn't allow for him to return. As cowardice as it appeared I ran home with the images of Nathanial nipping at my heels. The memories I wanted to forget, the ones I had nearly convinced myself never happened all flooded back to me. They only fueled my fear more, giving my tired body the strength to make it home.

I was 12 once more, lying on a boulder my legs immersed in the cool water. The water was deep here, none had ever touched the bottom but it was quiet. A dead-end branch of the river that offered us still waters. The trees above me were fully leaved, creating the perfect place to stretch out and fall asleep. I nearly did fall into a slumber until I felt the hands around my ankles dragging me into the water. I screamed in delight thinking it was Marcus but it wasn't.

I opened my eyes but couldn't see clearly. Someone was pushing me down, keeping me from the air I desperately needed. I kicked and punched but they held on until I felt my foot connect with something hard. I pushed but, which way was up? By sheer luck my head broke the surface and I gasped filling my aching lungs.

I felt someone grab my hair and pull, forcing me back under. My scream came out muffled from water. I grabbed my captor pulling them down with me, forcing the air from their lungs until they released me. With all my strength I swam for the bank, falling when my foot came down on a solid surface. Picking myself up, I ran blinking the water from my eyes. I could hear my attacker's footfalls behind me but I dared not look.

Scrambling under a fallen tree to large to jump over I felt the hands around my feet once more, dragging me back. "No!" Twigs scrapped my stomach and legs as I was pulled backward then flipped over.

Nathanial was staring down at me determination on his face. "Come here." He pinned both wrists above my head. I bucked only causing him to laugh. "You're mine now."

I writhed beneath him, sobs escaped my lips. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why not?" He smiled and I saw his jaw elongating into a muzzle. He shifted his weight, his grip momentarily loosening but that was all I needed.

I wrenched my hand free grasping the blade my Papa had given me only two suns earlier closed my eyes and swung. Hot liquid fell on my face and I opened my eyes at Nathanial's startled scream.