The Huntsman did as the voice had bade. Although archaic his words the huntsman recognized a part of the voices words from an old poem. "Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers each night may become a wolf when the wolf-bane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." The huntsman knew that he must find a grave and from its merth pick the wolfs bane for his love and thus make a pact with the devil to bring her back from deaths domain.
As vomit crept its way up my throat, Alecsandr’s eyes stared up towards my window protruding his presence into my room making me feel as if he were in here with me. The thoughts of him turning all wolfie came back into my mind; how he quickly shrugged off his human skin to become my feral executioner so many nights ago. I had thought that he no longer frightened me, yet as I soon realized he very much did. Or was my fear much more domestic? I shuddered and stumbled back from the window tripping on the one chair that sat in the center of my room. Falling to the wooden floor with a great thud, I let myself lay there letting my hair fall into my face, breathing slowly in an attempt to calm my thundering heart. My side throbbing as it remembered the pain of being tore into.
“He’s here. Alec is alive…and he’s here.” I said aloud.
That meant that somehow he escaped the death sentence Mikhail had sworn Alecsandr would receive. That despite all of the people who Alec killed or made suffer, he was still breathing. At the time it felt so wrong to let Mikhail execute Alec, yet now as my enhanced senses began to flourish I could now sense something within Alec that weeks ago, me as a human would have never known. As Alec looked in at me from the ground, I too looked in at him. I looked with eyes of a human who would turn into a werewolf. My new senses told me that Alecsandr was a monster. That night when I interfered in something I shouldn’t have a monster was left to scourge the earth; when the earth should have tasted his blood.
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Alecsandr:
HMPH. She looks good enough to eat. I thought to myself, as Jamie stared down at me from her perch; Like a hopeless baby chick staring down at a hungry snake. Saw something like that on the Animal planet channel, nature can be so cruel. Even as the snake made its way up the tree to the birds’ nest, the chick’s parents swooped and squawked at the snake in an attempt to save their helpless offspring. Stupid. In the end the snake had a full gut and the nest was left empty. I snickered and turned away from her window heading back into the trees. Walking for a bit while contemplating about my little chickadee Jamie.
She’s been put into a metamorphose room. Her and that one kid…what was his name? John? Who gives a fucks sake. The real story of interest is Jamie. Mikhail learned from my first visit to cover his ass and guard the doors so I couldn’t come visit her. Figured I get a peek at her from here eventually. Good things to come to those who wait. HA! She’s changing too, and fast from the looks of it. This made me smile a bit, who would have known the girl had it in her. Rumor had it that she threw Mikhail on his ass on her first shudder! HELL, the little bitch had enough strength to put me into a choker hold, I’m guessing she’s going to be powerhouse that’s for sure. I was far enough from the main compound so I’d be undisturbed. I stopped walking and began looking around in the foliage for some nightshade plant.
Specifically tobacco, since I had finished my last pack and those pricks up at the custom store wont sell me any more cigs. Something about my probation and punishment and blah fucking blah. So I’m looking for ingredients to make my own. Never did it before though, cant be too hard; dry the leaves them smoke em. Easy. I bent low searching sniffing the air and different plants, keeping my hands busy enough but all I could think about was her. She’s going to be a beautiful werewolf. I concluded. Strong, cunning, and definitely not brainwashed like the other jackoffs in the “Settlement.”
Yet there was something that really pissed me off about her. She escaped me. ME the best hunter of these woods, better than the guardians and Sylphide put into one. I wanted so much to finish the job and kill her fill my maw with her pretty little pink guts. She tasted so fucking good…My mouth began to water at the thought. My hand finally brushed over some tobacco. That wasn’t too hard, maybe I could even find some cannabis while I’m out here. This is gunna be a good day! I sat down on my ass proud of my first attempts at foraging. The sky is clear and the wind is down, the early golden morning light made things look kinda pretty. Most of the plants still had morning dew on them. It was nice out here, guess I’m secretly a morning person. I shrugged and sighed still unable to think what exactly it is I have planned for Jamie.
I want to kill her. This is for certain. But if left alive and allowed to change, she might prove to be a fun new toy for me. Course she’s Sylphide’s and the Elder’s play thing first, I almost feel bad for her. But whatever, now they can crawl off my back and fuck with someone else’s life for a change. Either way, I can only foresee good things for me and my little chickadee Jamie. I scoffed and laid back on the cool forest ground, I closed my eyes and breathed in the smells of the forest. I smiled and licked my lips in anticipation. “Just as we planned, Right Haier?” I said as he appeared from the thick of the trees.
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Jamie:
I was conflicted. The sight of Alecsandr only helped to stir my dormant fears. This hand, my hand will soon have hair and claws. I will become a werewolf. But will I be anything like him? Will I feast upon humans? Will a be a deranged killer? I mean that is why Mikhail removed me from my family is it not? I guess to conceal the secret of their clan and settlement, but Casey said it himself: Mikhail took me to not only protect my family from my own monstrous instincts, but keep me safe from THEM. As if my dads could look upon me and think “monster!” they would try to kill me..they would kill the beast I’d become in order to protect Heather and their own lives..I was nothing but what I had feared..the most… I began to panic..and then my second shudder began…
I could hear the pounding of my panicked heart in my ears as blood and adrenaline surged making its way through my body. My face started to heat up I opened my mouth to scream but instead a strangled moan escaped my lips. Nauseated and out of sorts I couldn’t figure out which way was up or down as the room began to spin. Or was it me that was spinning? I couldn’t tell. Trying my best to escape the twirling vertigo my body had found itself trapped in, I slammed my heavy head to the floor, pushing my forehead into its surface also slamming the palms of my hands on either side of my head in order to steady myself.
It might look like I was attempting to do a headstand but at this point I would be lucky if I could crawl. At first it helped but the spinning sensation wouldn’t leave and to make things worse it felt like the wind was just knocked out of my lungs leaving me gasping for air. It was then that the first muscle spasm took me. I saw the skin on top of my left hand ripple, it looked similar to when you shake out a blanket or sheet, a slow great wave followed by another until the ripples increased in speed, my other hand then followed suit.
“Whatss…Hah..ha.pp.ening to me?” My voice quivered.
The rippling skin spread to my forearm; up my bicep and triceps then up my deltoids and continued making its way further down my back. I could feel the muscles of my lower back twitch, and throb and I was sure my body was either about to take a really huge dump or sprout a tail. (personally I’d take the first option…) Yet as I concentrated on my left side of my body the right side also started to quake. I could feel my sweat dripping down my face as a drop made its way down my forehead before making a small sweat pool where my head met the floor.
A voice called out from the distance yet it also sounded as if it came from somewhere deep within in my own mind. I heard it whisper, and I felt something crack within my ear as a sudden bubble of pressure ballooned within my head pressing on the back of my eyes threatening to burst them from their sockets. The pain is unbearable even as the whisper grew louder the words it made within my head dared me to cross the line between humanity and lycanthropy.
“Transcend?” I wailed aloud the words that were whispering within. “I cant!!” I screamed through my tears, “I don’t want to--STOP!!! NO!”
Finally the rippling skin and pressure in my head seized, I was left weak and shaking on the floor. Curiosity overcame me as I brought my hands in front of my face. Thankfully, neither hair or claws were to be found. The door to my room flew open and Astrid ran inside, she fell to the ground beside me rolling me over to my back.
“Poor child.” Hissed Astrid as she pulled my heavy head onto her lap. “You were so close to changing I thought you would” She petted my face tenderly. “Next time Jamie I think that you will.” She said with a soft smile.
I gulped away the spit that pooled in my mouth, a stared up at Astrid’s wrinkled face. She wasn’t lying. Something about her eyes and the way she smelled told me she was telling the truth. My next shudder would be the one. Third try is the lucky charm right? Hot tears swelled within my eyes, my throat constricted. I really didn’t want to cry. Not in front of Astrid, but I mean what the hell else could I do but cry for myself and for my pitiful fate.
So I did. I bawled until I had no more tears left. Astrid sat and rocked with me the whole time. Her expression was not condemning, yet empathetic.
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So there I was on the floor sobbing into Astrid’s lap. I wanted to take everything back that had happened in last month, but of course there is no going back, only forward. Why do we live in a world where we can only make mistakes, lament and learn to move on? I always thought that God was in some ways a sadist, taking pleasure in the misery of the people he ‘loved.’ If he loved me, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be home warm in my bed with a bowl of lucky charms watching Saturday morning cartoons. Instead I was here going through the biggest transition of my life. I feel alone. I missed my mom so much…
I looked up at Astrid; with my red nose, and running snot. I must look so pathetic to this strong and straight-laced woman. Despite that she only smiled at me kindly while cooing and humming to me. I had said before that I didn’t trust her, but as of right now I love her. I wished that she was my grandmother. I wanted to thank her yet the only noise I could muster was my own sad sounds of sobbing. Then as if to interrupt mine and Astrid’s touching moment; Haier entered my room.
Haier commanded attention as he entered, mine and Astrid‘s eyes darted straight over to him. He walked towards us; his broad body shadowing over where we sat. “Why did you stop?” His tone was furious and his gaze unforgiving. It was as if I just ran over his puppy and told him that he couldn’t read good. I was crying already and as Haier’s scornful eyes burned into mine, it added to my shame and fear.
Now I just wanted to find a nice ditch to crawl into.
Astrid looked shocked as her own steely gaze shot back at Haier. “What has gotten into you guardian? The child is not at fault.”
Haier frowned, the lines around his mouth and on his forehead creased, yet his eyes softened. “Perhaps…forgive me Astrid. Please help get Jamie cleaned up and then I’ll have a talk with her.”
Astrid bowed her head low, and Haier left. Hot tears silently fell from the corner of my eye and down my cheek finding their way into my ear. I sniffled back the mucus in my nose, and shook my head in an attempt to avert the tears from falling in my ear hole. I stopped crying I guess. Only because my curiosity of Haier trumped my sadness. He wanted to talk to me later, and I was scared shitless of what he was going to say. I looked up at Astrid’s sagging face, her brown eyes were searching my own, for some reason I felt as if I should apologize to her. “Sorry…” I said softly.
She laid her cool hand on my forehead petting me. My mom used to caress my face like this; I thought to myself. When I was little I would go lay my head on her lap and she would smile down at me while petting my hair and face. I smiled at Astrid, she returning the gesture. However she was either done comforting me, or she was sick of being motherly or possibly she was responding to the urgency that rang clear from Haier’s tone of voice. I was done crying too. At least for now. I never would have called myself a cry baby before In my life; When I broke my big toe no tears, not even when Alec was feasting off of my juicy innards. Never could tell now though huh? I leaned up off of Astrid, my body still weak from its attempt to shudder, Astrid helped me to my feet she put my right arm around her broad shoulders to help keep me stable as we stood up together.
We began walking out of my room, this being only the second time I was allowed outside of my rustic prison. We are probably heading towards the bathroom the same I used yesterday before my “date” with Casey. As we headed past his room I closed my eyes and tried to smell for his scent. Nervousness and something flowery. Such a manly smell. I got a quick sniff of him, but we walked briskly past his door and I lost it, but from what I can tell I think that he is still there. We got to the bathroom door, Astrid carefully leaned me against the wall like a broom or mop; While Astrid waved over a man down the hallway. He then made his way towards us. He was tall and ordinary with short brown hair and blue eyes. Something about him I recognized…He looked at Astrid and nodded politely in greeting, he then looked to me and glowered miserably.
“Hey, I remember you.” I said aloud as I finally recognized his sulky face. It’s the constipated guy! That part I said within my head to avoid any further excuse for him to scowl. I opted for something slightly less insulting, “You took me to see Sylphide.” I added a weak smile after.
“Lady. Sylphide.” He corrected me pausing dramatically between the formality and Sylphide‘s name. I suppose he did it to make a point of embarrassing me.
My conscious seethed, OH shit my bad.. Asshole.
“Oh sorry.” I said meekly. He rolled his eyes and looked back at Astrid.
“Here is they key, caretaker.” He said as he offered up a long bronze key from the key ring he kept on a belt at his hip.
B. I .N.G.O AND BINGO WAS HIS NAME-OH! I know who I need to escape from this place. I thought to myself. But how to get the key from him? The bigger question was how to get out of my already locked room? Dammit my plans never work!
It’s true. Your plans usual are useless, but your not a half bad actress though. Maybe you could pretend to be sexy and seduce the keys from him?
Ya know that’s not too bad of an idea! But he hates me…I said to my conscious as I looked at him again. His eyes were narrowed and he was giving me a hair lip. No way could any form of my charm win him over. I could offer to give him a free B.J and he’d laugh and probably glare at me some more. And hey! What do you mean “pretend to be sexy?” I said in my mind at my conscious. Of course she neglected to answer me. Meanwhile, Astrid opened the bathroom door gave stink face his key back, so that she could carry me inside. She closed the door behind us, shutting out whats-his-putts.
Since I was so weak I couldn’t manage to pull off my own clothes. Embarrassingly, Astrid had to undress me and put me in the tub. It was one of the most awkward moments of my life. And that’s counting when Sheldon took me out on a date only to spill his full cup of hot tea right on my lap; the audience being a crowded Coffee shop filled with kids from my high school, and that wasn’t the worst part. The spilt tea on my blue jeans made it look like I had wet myself. Horrible memory. Despite the awkwardness I was clean and beginning to regain my strength. After the bath Astrid brought me back to my room. On the way, I tried my best to study the hallway we were in. I spied a flight of stairs that lead downstairs and possibly out of here. Then again, It was still useless if I couldn’t get out of my locked room.
I concluded that I wasn’t going to get to leave my room not until I was either a werewolf or trusted enough not to run away. I prefer the latter. So, whatever Haier had to say to me later, I have to convince him that I’m not a flight risk, and that maybe giving me some freedom might not be a bad thing. Of course I do have the biggest intention of running my little ass all the way home. But he doesn’t have to know that, or in the very least he needs to think that I don’t want to leave. And after my convo with Casey I’m hoping that my façade and story I told him right in front of Astrid mind you; was later repeated to Haier. Hopefully. In any case I need to eat to regain more of my strength; then I’ll deal with speaking with Haier. This time no tears. My last shudder is coming soon, and I’ve decided something. I’ve decided that I rather see my family once again and die, than stay here like a good little girl and assimilate.
Sylphide warned me that if I ran away that they could punish me by death, but if running away and exposing the secret meant death, then I welcome it. God may be cruel. I may not be able to take back the mistake of trusting Mikhail. But why do we fall? So we can learn to get back up again. I am cursed with this pitiful fate, but in the very least God gave me a free will and as long as I have it I’m not going to just lay down and accept my fate. This I swear! Jamie Divia Grayson is not about to idly sit back and become a werewolf and forget my past life, this were-girl is busting out! I am going to tell my fathers how much I love them and I am going to tell my sister how smart and pretty she is. I still need to see them on last time.
There is of course a bigger decision I must make. Do I tell my family the truth? They might not accept what I‘ve become but In the very least they should know. Shouldn’t they? Will they fear the monster inside me?
I sat down on my bed, a food tray my only companion as I found myself once again isolated in my room. I shook my head disbelievingly, “ I’m not a monster. I’m still me and am going to escape.”
Why not wait to run away until after you’ve turned? My conscious said in response.
“Because, I want them to see me as I was. Not for what I am becoming. I know that they would never hurt me, even if I’m less than human. But I don’t want to risk it. I want to die ME. Normal. Not something that they fear and definitely not something that Sylphide has power over. I want to be Normal Jamie for one last time.” I confessed aloud to my room and my conscious.
For a while she was silent. I expected her to argue and try to convince me other wise. Instead, she said softly within the walls of my mind;
This is your life.
This is our life.
Time to take it back.