I stopped at the river to wash off the blood before returning to the cabin.
A Faerie. A Faerie.
Of all things to meet in the woods, I ran into a Faerie. It explained my sudden and miraculous escapes. Faeries weren't human; they could manipulate things with ease. Something like undoing chains or my cuffs would be easy.
When I was a child, my mother told me fairy tales before bed. Ours differed from the stories of humans. Ours didn't have happy endings most of the time and always featured creatures of our world that were true. I had yet to hear a happy story about a faerie.
My face paled as the cabin came into view. Smoke rose from the chimney. I remembered Henri was supposed to let me out from the basement at sunrise, and wished I hurried back faster. Excuses ran through my head. Not telling him about the faerie would be best until I knew more about her. She could have been just passing by, or could have been living in the woods.
I pushed open the door and peeked in. Henri sat in the same chair as yesterday, a cup pressed to his lips. The smell of coffee filled the room. A small pot rested on the table, a second cup in front of the empty chair.
Henri's lips stretched across his face as I crossed the room to the pile of fresh clothes resting on the bed. I scurried to dress, dropping in the chair after.
I avoided looking at his face. The smile hid what he was really thinking. He didn't seem all too surprised to find that I escaped. He poured me a cup of coffee. I sipped it, enjoying its warmth.
Uncle forbade me from enjoying such things as coffee. I had snuck it a few times, but drinking it in the open with Henri was something I could get used to.
"How was the hunting last night?" I asked.
Henri took another sip before answering.
"Splendid. We brought down a moose. Father is overjoyed. There will be a feast tonight, so ready yourself for that." He sipped his coffee. "How about you? Perhaps you should change your brown eyes to purple. Being a wizard is the only way to explain that little disappearing act of yours."
I looked down at my wrists; the red marks from the cuffs completely gone thanks to my speedy healing.
"I think someone has been letting me out." I muttered.
Henri poured himself another cup of coffee.
"If I didn't just unlock the chains on the floor, only to find an empty room, I would have called you a liar. Well, I'm not sure who would lack the brain to free a wolf from a locked room."
I nodded. A faerie, it seemed, wanted to free me.
Henri drained his cup, dragging his tongue across his lips. "I'll keep quiet about this, but in exchange, I want something."
My cup clinked as I placed it on the saucer. "I have nothing, cousin. Uncle claimed everything as his own—"
"When he became King." He finished my sentence. "Yes, I understand, but what I want isn't physical objects but something worth much, much more."
I sipped my coffee, looking into his eyes. Something sparkled in them, but where this conversation was going worried me. When I didn't answer, he continued.
"What I want is your word. Swear your fealty to me."
My eyebrows crunched together. "Swear to you? Why would you want that? You aren't even—" I stopped, noticing Henri's smile.
"Not yet, cousin. Just as my father killed yours, I will kill my father to become King."
I hunched forward, rubbing my chin. Henri's confession sent a shiver down my spine.
"Why would you need me? It's as you said. I'm weak."
Henri drained the kettle into his cup. A small teaspoon swirled through his coffee, clinking the edges.
"I want you to be my Second once I become King. Yes, you're weak, but becoming King will not be easy. My father is a mere coward; resorting to poison to win his battle. I will use my mind and my strength to win."
I shook my head.
"I'm still weak. And are you sure? You're talking of killing your own father."
Henri rested his head on his hand.
"Of course I am sure. Father is doing a decent job as King, but he cares more for the title than his people. I'm sure you've noticed; even running this sad excuse of a town is hardly something to brag over." His finger dropped to point at me. "As for you being weak, simply stop. Starting today, you will eat as much as I, sleep as much as I, and take half my chores. Father will disapprove, but you must start defying him if this is to work."
I rolled my eyes. "Easy for you to say. If I show up for breakfast, Uncle will simply refuse to serve me. Perhaps he will just banish me to this cabin."
Henri's lips stretched into his permanent smile.
"Does that sound bad? Living out here you could learn to hunt and survive. Either way, know that I will back your decision."
I nodded. Living out here meant I could do as I pleased without being lectured. I could draw or eat to my heart's content. My eyes flickered towards the door, half expecting the Faerie to be standing there.
"Might I have a few days to think it over?" I asked.
Henri chuckled. "I'm not going to kill Father next week. Take as much time as you require." He stood, draining his cup.
Wrapping them in cloth, he packed the cups back into his sack. I stood as well, pushing the chair against the table. I gathered up my own things.
"Shall we, cousin? I suspect things will get quite interesting before noon."
"What have you done this time?" Uncle's voice bellowed the moment we walked through the front door.
I stopped, hesitating. "I'm not sure, Uncle—"
"Do not lie to me, boy! Hoffman's three pigs were slaughtered last night. I could smell the blood before we even reached town."
Henri stepped forward, dropping a hand on my shoulder.
"Felken tells the truth, Father. He never left the basement; I unlocked him and his shackles an hour ago."
I looked to Uncle, expecting his rage to boil over. Henri's words had been smooth, but lying was what Uncle hated more than anything. He looked us over; I looked down. My ability to lie was nowhere as good as Henri's.
Seemingly satisfied, Uncle rubbed his beard. His eyes lingered over me, looking for signs that I was lying.
"Both of you are to attend a meeting with Hoffman. We will be discussing our current wolf problem and how to deal with it." Uncle looked us both over. "Put on your jackets, will you? You might not get as cold as humans, but you sure as hell look like them. People are starting to talk."
Henri smiled, saluting his father. I wondered how he could be plotting to kill his father yet act so normal before him.
"Ja, Felken will be borrowing my old jackets, then. His is old and makes us look poor."
I looked at my cousin, questioning if his idea of having me fit in would be such a brilliant plan.
Uncle's eyebrows dropped into a frown as his eyes turned towards me, but he said nothing.
Henri fetched me his old leather jacket. Worn and brown, as I slipped it on, I found the sleeves much too large. My fingers fastened the buttons through the slits with ease. Henri pinched some of the fabric between his fingers.
"You are far too skinny, cousin. I haven't seen you as a wolf in many years, but I can imagine it would be very small."
I rolled my eyes and jerked my arm out of his grip. Still smiling, Henri shrugged on his own jacket.
Hoffman's house was right on the edge of the village. His property backed into the forest, making it clear why I had ventured in for a meal. I was just relieved it was not someone else I had murdered.
Hoffman stood at the gate to his house. Tall as me, he was a burly man. Years of working his tiny farm showed on his tanned skin; the wrinkles were starting to layer now that he was getting older.
Several men gathered with Hoffman, each turning to look at us on our arrival. I stuck my hands in my pockets.
"Bürgermeister Adalwulf, thank you for coming. Ah, Henri, Felken. It has been a while. Come, come, this way," Hoffman gestured.
Uncle followed close behind, then Henri and myself. The rest of the men filtered in after. Hoffman led us to the back of his house. A small barn had been erected; big enough for three pigs and a horse. A few chickens pecked at the ground, but it seemed they lived in a smaller shed off to the side.
Already patches of red came into view, reminding me of Eleonore lying in the snow. I shook my head. Hoffman led us further into the barn, stopping in front of the door.
"These wolves are smart. The door was shut tight."
Uncle's eyes flickered towards me for a second. I looked forward, pretending not to notice.
The wood swung open and my gut dropped. Three corpses lay half eaten. Fleshy pieces hung off the bones, blood still dripping. My hand flung up to my mouth.
"Did you see what had done this?" Uncle knelt to examine the pigs.
"Ja, a small pack of wolves. I reckon five at most. I heard the racket and ran outside with a broom to chase them off."
Henri nodded. "So you saw them?"
"You bet your bottom I did, boy. Nothing special about them, although the pack leaders were odd."
"Odd how?" I pitched in.
Hoffman rubbed his chin. "Well one was starving, it seemed. Skinny thing. The other was snow white with these blazing gold eyes. I say, I almost wet myself when it looked at me."
My heart raced. I had joined a pack with the Faerie last night and slaughtered pigs. It explained why she was with me when I awoke, but not why she continued to free me every full moon.
I let out a small sigh, standing up straighter when Uncle noticed.
"We will wait. If things progress—"
"Wait?" Hoffman cried. "Becker's poor daughter was attacked. My livestock are dead!"
Uncle stroked his beard. "There are more pressing things to worry about. The price of living is increasing with each day, and—"
"My livestock are my living!" Hoffman's finger poked Uncle's chest. "You might have come from money, but I sure as hell didn't! Replacing those pigs will take months of saving—"
I tuned out Hoffman's angry accusations. Once again, I had made life for someone that much harder because my lack of control. Perhaps one day I would have enough money to pay back the poor old man.
"—wolf hunt!"
My ears perked up.
Uncle let out a sigh, dropping a hand on his son's shoulder. "If it will stop your blasted yelling, very well. My son shall lead you into the woods so you may hunt the wolves." Hoffman's jaw dropped open to say something, but Uncle interrupted him.
"You have one chance to find your enemy. I will not have unnecessary lives taken by pointless running around each day. Understood?"
Hoffman's face lit up red, his teeth digging into his lip. He nodded; his head seeming to have a hard time moving.
"Miss Faerie?" I called once the village slipped out of view.
The wolf hunt was to take place tomorrow morning right before dawn. I had volunteered, but I went ignored.
"Miss Faerie!"
I felt sillier as each second passed. If someone were to hear me, I'm sure they would think I was insane.
I reached the river. The day's sun warmed the ice, creating cool puddles of water on top of it. I knelt and scooped my fingers in it, bringing the cool water to my face.
Henri had assured me the blood was gone, but it felt as if it was starting to layer on me and my skin would never be free of it.
I swallowed a handful before standing.
On the other side of the river stood the white-haired Faerie. In her hands were a small bundle of flowers. She seemed to enjoy leaving them around.
"Miss Faerie," I gasped.
Her eyes searched mine for a second. She disappeared.
"Come back," I pleaded. "You're in danger—" I tripped and stumbled backwards; the petite girl appearing out of thin air startled the daylights out of me—her hand outstretched, offering me the flower.
"I-I accept," I hesitated, remembering Faeries didn't like to be thanked. I took the flowers, knowing if she wanted me dead, I would've died months ago. She had many chances to do so.
Her head tilted.
"You're in danger. Do you understand me?"
Her stare never faltered. I groaned, running my hand through my hair.
"Danger. You," I pointed at her.
The Faerie spun around behind me, this time standing closer. The scent of pine filled my nose, almost drowning me. Her tiny hand grasped my jacket. Giving it a small tug, she took off running.
I watched in awe as one moment she was a girl on two legs, and the next a she-wolf running on four. Zapping out of my trance, I took off following.
My legs weren't as graceful as hers. My sluggish feet seemed to get hooked on every hidden branch and log, slowing me in the process. I slowed my pace, panting. My lungs burned; gasping for air seemed to increase the pain.
The Faerie ran ahead, leaving me behind. She didn't look back. I couldn't tell if she thought I was following or just didn't care that I stopped.
I stopped, glancing around. The trees seemed taller and thicker, even after just a short run. The other cabins must have been around here. I had used the same one for years, not wandering much farther than I had to. Venturing this far into the forest alone wasn't recommended even by experienced hunters.
The scent of pine was long gone, as was the Faerie. Slumping my shoulders, I turned around and started following my tracks home.