“It was for our own protection…”
“WHAT ABOUT MY BROTHERS PROTECTION?! THEY FUCKING KNEW HE WOULD DIE AND DID NOTHING! I KNOW THEY KNEW! AND I WILL KILL THEM ALL!”
Her grief had turned into madness. No matter what I say, I know I couldn’t reason with her now.
But I still had to try.
“Marie, please. I’m so sorry about what happened to Seb, but…”
Marie was on her feet so fast, I barely saw her move. “But what Simon? Huh? But what?”
She was in my face now, staring hard into my eyes. It was the first time I noticed hers looked different. They were larger, and her pupils were fully dilated.
“Killing won’t bring him back or help you heal.” I said as calmly as I could. I reached out to stroke her face, and she angrily slapped my hand away.
“Killing them isn’t about bringing him back or healing.” She scoffed. “This is about justice.”
She turned to walk away, and I grabbed her arm to stop her.
Big mistake.
Using her training and reflexes, she twisted my arm, and with one hand, flipped me over onto my back.
I hit the ground with an oomph. Momentarily, the wind was knocked out of my lungs, and I strugglde to catch my breath.
Marie peered down at me. Her eyes were almost glowing.
“The wolf will rise again.” She said in a voice close to a growl.
She turned away but barely made it two steps before she collapsed to the ground.
I rushed to her side, my pain forgotten.
“Marie! Marie, what’s wrong?!” Fear had my voice spiking. Her eyes were were rolling. She was sweating profusely, and within seconds, she’s convulsing.
“HELP!” I screamed, knowing no one was around, but that was all I could think to do.
“Marie, I’m going to carry you to Cora’s.” I was not sure if carrying someone who was having a seizure was the right protocol, but leaving her alone like this wasn’t an option.
Instead of answering me, the distinct sound of growls erupted from her throat.
I recognized that sound.
Hesitantly, I scooted back.
Her bones began to snap, and she started screaming. Before long, her skin melted from her body, and she was no longer the Marie I knew. She stood on four legs, shaking her head from side to side as it changed from human to beast.
The change happened a lot faster with her than it did with Seb.
Backing up, I stepped on a twig, and the wolf snapped its head towards me.
She was massive. Her coat was the opposite of her brother’s. Where Seb was as black as the night sky, Marie’s was as white as the first snow. Her yellow eyes glowed as she stared at me. Her full silver tail held steady.
She growled, baring her sharp teeth, and my heart jumped into my throat.
“It’s m-me Marie.” I held my hands up in a surrender to show her I wasn’t a threat.
I could only hope she understood. She didn’t approach me, and I didn’t dare run. Turning your back on a wolf the size of a bear didn’t seem very smart. So we stood there, staring at each other for what seemed like hours. My heart was beating so fast, I was sure I’d pass out before she could kill me.
I took a deep breath to calm myself.
We couldn’t stand here like this forever so I summoned some courage to try and coax her out of it.
“Marie, please change back. I know you’re hurting, but I can help you.”
She didn’t move, and I took that as a sign that she was at least listening to me. Tentatively, I took a step forward.
And another.
Marie’s bright eyes were on my every step, but she wasn’t making any moves.
“I'm here for you.” I added, slowly reaching a hand out toward her. “I love y…”
Before I could finish that sentence, Marie pounced. In one graceful stride, she leapt into the air and tackled me to the ground. Once again, I was on my back, but this time, it was a heavy paw on my chest and a menacing growl in my face that kept me from breathing.
I desperately needed air, but the fear I felt as I looked into Marie’s angry eyes as she lowered her razor sharp teeth closer to my face made it impossible for me to even try.
Dots blurred my vision, and I began to feel like I was spinning.
Suddenly, my eyes flew open and I jerked up gasping. It took a moment for me to shake off the disoriented feeling, but soon, I realized I was still on the field. Only now, it was the moon that lighted the sky instead of the sun. I must have passed out after Marie attacked, but since I was still alive, I was grateful she didn’t kill me.
Standing on my shaky legs, it didn’t take me long to spot her. She was still in wolf form. I also didn’t know how long I was out.
She was sitting next to Seb, howling at the full moon. Even her howl was full of pain. It was as if she was crying out to someone. I wanted to go to her. Instead, I choose to watch from a safe distance. I didn’t know how much the wolf side was controlling her, but seeing that she attacked me, I could guess a lot.
My heart ached as I hear her nonstop howl. I wanted to ease her pain, but I didn’t know how when I couldn’t even get close to her. Maybe this was what she needed to grieve.
Maybe the best thing to do would be to give her some space to mourn her loss. I could head to Cora’s and get someone more experienced to help her. I could also ask them to look for Ana if she was still alive.
I began to leave when something strange started to happen.
The temperature changed.
It dropped drastically.
Marie’s howls exited her mouth in thick smoke as if she was puffing a cigar. I watched the frigid air come out from my mouth as a cool breeze made me shiver. This was strange because it was the middle of the summer, and even at night, the temperature was usually at seventy-five degrees in most days.
A bad feeling came over me as I knew there wasn’t a scientific explanation for a sudden change in season.
Just as I called out to Marie, her howling grew louder, more demanding than before. Her breath didn’t disappear like mine, but rather, gathered above her.
The thick cloud hovered at least ten feet from the ground in a large perfect ring. She finally stopped howling. The ring began to shimmer, and all of a sudden, a giant grey wolf descended from the center. It landed perfectly on all fours a few feet from Marie, and I choked on my spit.
Several more wolves as big as Marie came leaping from the cloud in the air.
Wolves, at least a dozen in different shades, circled and sniffed her. The thought crossed my mind that they may hurt her and I should go for help now, but I didn’t move. My curiosity didn’t allow me to look away, and my fear didn’t allow me to go near.
Marie was still as they inspected her. From her stance, she didn’t appear intimated or scared as she was seemingly unbothered by their inspection. Did she know they were coming? But how? And from where?
Every wolf that sniffed her gave a brief nod afterwards. The largest ash wolf that first came out was the only one that didn’t. He watched as the others performed their test before he made his approach.
His fur wasn’t completely gray. His paws and ears were black and his tail was too except the very tip of it was silver. He strode with the confidence of a leader, and I knew he had to be. He was nose to nose with Marie now. Though he was bigger, Marie still showed no fear. They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, and I could only guess that they were communicating. Then, the tension melted away as they gently headbutted.
The rest of the wolves began to circle Seb’s body. Marie and ash joined last and they led the group in a howl.
Was this some kind of ritual?
I didn’t remember reading anything about it in the book from Helia, but then again, wolves weren’t really my focus at the time.
They howled in unison as their white breaths surrounded Seb’s body. I couldn’t keep myself from stepping closer to get a better look at what was going on.
The smoke coated his body, wrapped him in it until I could no longer see Seb. They stopped howling, and the smoke slowly evaporated. I held my breath, watching intently as the smoke cleared, hoping that I’d see Seb alive and well and this was some wolf healing ritual.
The last of the smoke vanished, and to my shock, Seb wasn’t there. His body had disappeared with the smoke. He was gone as if he’d never been there.
“Where’d he go?” I accidentally said aloud.
Every wolf spun in my direction. I gulped as several pairs of glowing eyes locked on me.
Growls began to fill the air.
Cautiously, I take a step back.
The ash wolf charged. My mind screamed for me to run, but my terror rooted me to the ground like an anchor.
Oh god I was going to die.
I wanted to close my eyes, but my non-cooperating body made me watch death come for me.
I shook as the mountainous wolf closed in. Nearly a moment too late, a threatening howl pierced the air and stopped the wolf in his tracks. He was but a few inches away from me. I could feel his hot breath hitting my face.
From behind him, Marie slowly approached. She circled him, releasing a low growl every couple of seconds. The ash wolf growled louder and angrier in response. He locked eyes with me, and I could see the hatred in them. He wanted to kill me, and no matter what Marie was tried to do, his anger never simmered. He bared his teeth, and I knew what was going to happen next.
The wolf charged. I screamed in horror as his giant body came hurtling towards me.
Just as his long claws swiped across my chest, he was tackled to the ground by Marie. The wolves rolled and fought viciously. The remaining wolves barked as they watched but none interfered.
The ash wolf jumped onto her back, biting down into her shoulder. Marie cried out but didn’t surrender. She used a strength I didn’t know she had to get to her feet and flip backwards. The blow was enough to get the ash wolf off. They faced each other once again, growling. I may not understand what they were saying but their body language told me this wasn’t over. The ash wolf lunged toward her. My heart stopped as I feared he would kill her. Marie didn’t move until the very last second when she maneuvered quickly away from the kill shot and swiftly leapt across his body and latched herself onto his neck. Even though Marie hadn’t been a wolf for a full day, she fought with natural skill.
They crashed to the ground. Marie’s sharp teeth dug into his fur. He began whimpering. The other wolves approached, keeping their bodies low to the ground. Marie held on tight. I began to fear she would kill him, and then they would kill her. She was dangerously outnumbered. It was in this moment that I fully realized how useless I was as a human to protect her.
I had to convince her not to kill him. Surrender and run. Maybe she could outrun them.
Before any words left my mouth, Marie shook her large head and the sound of his neck snapping filled the silent night.
His body went limp beneath her.
Oh shit.
I expected every wolf there to pounce and defend their leader, but to my surprise, they didn’t.
Instead of baring teeth, they dropped on all fours in front of her and bared their necks. It was some weird sign of submission.
Marie was now their leader.
She barked in what I assumed was her acceptance of their submission, and one by one the wolves pushed off the ground and vanished into the mysterious cloud from which they came from.
Only Marie was left.
I finally took the breath I felt like I’d been holding since this whole thing began, and with that, came a hiss from the sting in my chest. I glanced down to four deep claw marks. I was losing blood, and it hurt like hell, but it wasn’t life threatening.
When I lifted my gaze, Marie’s glowing eyes were on me.
Even as a wolf, she was beautiful.
A small smile lifted the corner of my lips.
It was over.
She saved us.
I opened my mouth to call to her but she turned away.
Without looking back, she leaps into the air, and in the next moment, she too disappeared into the cloud.
The cloud shimmered and dissipated.
The temperature rose.
Marie left me.
The sting from my open wound didn’t hurt as much as the sting in my heart.
I lost the girl I loved.
I lost my best friend.
I lost everyone.
I clutched my chest, trying to hold the blood in as the tears poured out.
I was all alone now.
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Here is a sample from another story you may enjoy:
PROLOGUE
Pediatric Mental Health Institute
Redbird Falls, Michigan
March 13, 1993
“Hello, Amelia.” His expression was soft, his movements slow. “I’m Doctor Sam. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions. Do you think that would be okay?” His eyes roamed over the young girl’s face. He’d read over the case files; he’d known about the night terrors, the multiple police visits, but he hadn’t expected a five-year-old to look so . . . worn out. The circles beneath her bloodshot eyes were dark, darker than his own. On top of that, she looked terrified.
“Amelia? Do you think that would be okay? We don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about. This is a safe place.”
She eyed the room as if fact-checking his statement. “Okay.” The solitary word came out tired, making her sound more like a soldier fresh out of combat than a child just learning her alphabet.
Dr. Sam reached into his desk drawer and grabbed a piece of paper and some crayons. “Would you like to color me a picture while we talk?”
She nodded robotically as he placed the paper before her.
“I heard about your nightmares. I’d like to help them go away.”
There was no reaction at all from the girl. She just continued to stare blankly at him, no expression apart from exhaustion on her tiny face.
“Do you go to school?”
Nodding, she mumbled, “Yes.”
Dr. Sam sat up straighter, happy to have gotten a verbal response, even if it was only a solitary word. “What grade are you in?”
“Kindergarten.” She grabbed a red crayon but didn’t press it to the paper. Instead, she squeezed it within her small fist, so tightly her knuckles turned white. Dr. Sam watched the action closely before taking note of it.
“Do you like school, Amelia?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What’s your favorite thing about school?”
Amelia didn’t understand why he was asking all of these questions. She wished her mommy would come back. The room she was in was full of toys and books, but for some reason, it all felt strange and foreign to her. Her mommy said that if she answered this man’s questions, she could go back home. “I like it because it’s daytime.”
“Why do you like the daytime, Amelia?” His eyebrows were scrunched up, just like the other people, the teachers, the people who came to see her at home. They always made the same face. Even mommy did it.
“The monster only comes at night.” Her heart beat faster now. She didn’t like talking about the monster. Mommy always told her that the monster wasn’t real, but Amelia knew better. Nobody could help her. Nobody believed her.
“You mean the nightmares? Do you dream of a monster?”
Amelia couldn’t answer. She knew better. Whenever she talked about it, things only got worse. Her mother would cry more. The people would come more. She’d have to go to more doctors, answer more questions.
“It’s okay, Amelia,” he said in that same soft voice they always used. She knew he was trying not to scare her, like whe
n she played with the puppy from across the street. They talked to her the same way she’d called to JoJo.
“I’m here to help make the monster go away.”
Her attention snapped back to him. “Can you do that?”
“I can if you answer all of my questions honestly.”
She leaned forward and set the red crayon back down
“Don’t you want to color?” he asked.
“No. I want to make the monster go away.”
“Can you color the monster so that I know what it looks like?”
“I’ve never seen the monster. It hides.” Rubbing her tired eyes, Amelia waited for his next question.
“You mean in your nightmares? It hides?”
“It’s not in a nightmare. The monster wakes me up.”
Dr. Sam scribbled more words on his notepad before turning his attention back to Amelia. “How does the monster wake you up?”
“It’s noisy, and it throws things at me. My dolls move around the room,” Amelia paused, then continued on in a whisper, “I can hear it breathing.”
“Does the monster speak? Does it ever say anything to you?”
“Sometimes.”
“What kinds of things does the monster say?” he asked.
“It asks me to play, but it never really wants to play. It just wants to scare me.” Amelia sucked in a shaky breath. Her chest was feeling tight again.
Dr. Sam, noticing her reaction, got up from his chair and walked around to kneel so he was eye level with her.
“Does the monster ever say anything else?” he asked gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“He says I belong to him.”
The doctor stood and walked over to write more notes. Never in his ten years of experience had he seen a case as severe as this one, and usually, cases had been through a few hands before they ever hit his desk. “Are you awake when these things happen, Amelia,” he asked, making sure to keep the unease he felt out of his voice.
“I try to go to sleep, but the monster won’t let me.”
“Does the monster ever hurt you?” he asked, still writing.
Pure: A Paranormal Romance Page 69
