Royal Wolf Chp. 1: Present and Past
The breeze felt good against my fur as I drove. Usually it was just pane stupid of me to drive in my hybrid form; in cause I human drove by or I get pulled over by a cop. But I won't get caught because I was on the rural street with nothing but mile of roads.
A werewolf on a road trip that was what I was.
The full moon was square in the center of black sky. Moonlight sank into the pores of my skin, and illuminated the earthly shadows around me. The world was alit and creatures of the night sank deeper into the shadows that concealed them.
I, on the other hand, was glad that the moonlight was showing me true form. I was tired of always being in the dark in this form. I was actually going to be able hunt in the light that seemed so . . . inviting and welcoming--well the shadows held the same appeal, but the moon was like a magnet for me, like I was its guardian or something.
One thing was for sure, tonight I was getting the chance to moon-bath.
But regarding that, my mind was on other thoughts: like the fact that I was 338 years old, but with a teenager's body.
And instantly my head punted with the memories I've collected over my years of my life. My thoughts thrust me to memory of when my Father, Edger Florets Van Brisger--an English born Russian--was lying on his bed, on the brink of death.
Painting of family portrait whipped past me as I race down the castles' halls. Not ever the velvet carpet that covered the stone under my feet could define that sound of my running.
I too out of it to realize I was about to collide with one of our servants. I stopped to a halt to avoid running into her, but we both went spiraling toward the floor.
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said. "Please let me help you with that."
She got up and started collecting the clothes scattered across the floor. "Please, my prince. You do not need help me. It is my job."
"Oh, come on, Amanda. You know I like helping with the chores and helping my servants."
"Oh, really? Well than, we don't you give up the crown to become a servant?" She asked.
I blushed. I can't believe she said that! True, I like it when my servant's humor me; but I comment like that come have her thrown out of the castle.
"Ashstin," Amanda sighed. "It is not your place, nor is it your duty to help us maid. No. It is your duty to become the king and rule the kingdom."
I sighed as well. "Ok. I will see you later, then." I got up and started walking down the corridor toward my Fathers bedroom.
"All hail King Ashstin!" Amanda declared as I rounded the corner toward my parent's chamber.
A grin spread across my face.
When I turned the corner, I saw my parent's two guards, Lazar and Mizar, guarding the door. I walked a slow and steadily toward the rich wood doors that Lazar and Mizar was standing.
"Good day, gentlemen," I said.
The two nodded and moved their swords. "Good day, our prince." They moved to the side and opened the door for me. I walked into room and instantly reeled back. The aura and the scent of the room were grim.
The room was lined with rich wood furniture; the floor was padded with white furred carpet and the room's size was fairly big. In the left corner was a red wood desk with a stack of papers. On the right-hand corner was a feathered-pen and an extra link bottle. On the other side of the desk as an extra candle (for crescent wax stamps) and a ring with our family crescent, and a box filled with gold and silver coins. Next to the desk was a book shelf filled with numerous amounts of book. On the right hand of the bedroom was a stain glass window and next to that was my Mothers jewelry box and make up set. On the top of the box was a range of rings, necklaces and bracelets. And at the center wall was the delicate cotton bed. The bed was framed with white wood from a timber tree; the sheets were the soft silk-like material.
The bedding was beautiful, but it reeked of the coming death of my Father.
My father was sitting up; his back perched on the elegant wooden frame. His face was pale, snowy almost, like mine. His fine hair grayed at the edges of his head. His hazel eyes were darkened, which meant he was in thought.
"Come here my son," he whispered; his voice would have been barely audible to human ears. I could hear him quite well with my heighted hearing. I walked over to him and sat on the bed next to him.
"Yes, Father?" I asked. "Shell I fetch some more herbs?"
He gave a weak, humorous chuckle. "Do as you wish, my son. But both you and the shaman know there is no time left for me. The shaman may have the power heal many things, but she does not have the power to heal this disease I have caught. My son, I will die soon and after my death, you will be king of ActistafÜr. I do not want you to dwell on my death, because with your love of the people you will be a great king."
He closed his eyes for a second and then continued. "Now," he said, patting my hand. "Go do what you will and fetch some more herbs."
"Yes, Father." And with that, I left him and my Mother to talk privately for his final days.
I walked out and told the guards to notify me of his death. They nodded and I kept walking though the castle's halls, out the back door and into the woods that surrounded the castle.
I walked toward a bush I knew of that was famous for healing. When I reached the plant, I knelt down and started picking.
I shiver ran down my spine as I sensed another one of my kind. I lifted my head to the sky, as if basking my face in moolight, and sniffed. I knew this scent alright. I mean how could I forget the scent of the woman who turned my on my 18th birthday?
"Aw my little volk, what are you doing?" She asked. "volk" means wolf in Russian. She knelt down and wrapped her arm around me.
I resisted the urge to push her away.
"What does it like I am doing, Annita?" I asked, annoyance leaked from my voice.
She laughed. "Well, it looks like you are collecting herbs for your withering father. I do not know we you bother. That old man is going to die."
It that instant, I leapt at her with graceful speed, pinning her wrist into a nearby tree. "Do not speak of my Father like that!" I growled. "You do not know him."
Annita giggled again. "Why, I do not know him, true. He is still to dye, so why not finish his death. You can make it quick. You can make him not suffer anymore." Her eyes twinkled at the thought of me killing my Father.
I loathe this foul woman who dare's agitate me.
I released her wrist, collect my fallen herbs and flitted toward the castle's walls.
Once inside, I took deep, steady breaths. With her evil thought put behind me, I walked over toward the horses stable. Tonight was a full moon, so I was going to need all the strength I can get. I walked over to one of the horses, drew my knife, grabbed my goblet I kept stashed and drew blood form one of the animals, and Shadowed back to my room.
In inter of my room was similar to my parents, but different. It did not have the makeup and jewelry set and some of the elegant painting my parents had. No. My room was filled with wolf collects. My bookshelf was filled with book on wolves and several books on lycanthrope--well with some occasional fiction books, more or less.
I walked over toward my study area, plopped down in a chair, pulled out a research book of werewolf myths and lures. I contemplatively read through the next three chapters.
My finger occasional dipped into my goblet of blood and I would lick it off my finger, relishing the sweet, crisp taste. It tasted like . . . well, I cannot really say. It tasted like the richest, sweetest liquid possible.
Yeah, let us put it that way.
By the time I finished the book, I felt a brittle tingle in my spine. The Change was beginning.
My skin change a gray-ish color and soon fur started to sprout in its place. My back arched and my spine re-joined. My eyes shifted it yellow, my teeth and nails soon lengthened into fangs and claws. My hands shifted from humans hands to paws of a hunter. My mouth stretched out into my muzzle and soon last and least, my tail was the last thing to grow and become full with silvery fur.
I was in my full anthro form.
My heart stuttered when I hear my door open and Mizar walked in--probably to inform me of my Father's death.
"Sir, Ashstin, I have come to . . ." he trailed of when he saw me. And I know what he saw.
He saw a evil creature in the same dressings--well partly is in same cloths as they had ripped in the process of the Change and now are torn and the bit scattered around me--as the prince and with the same blade.
He ran back outside and yelled, "Notify the Queen, her son has been conversed with the devil. I want this door locked. That beast shall not leave this castle until it is burned at the stakes."
_Oh, crap . . ._I thought.