by Lee Taylor
The house seemed different compared to the last time I was here. It seemed cold, and I checked on Lycaon. Making sure he was alright, I didn’t think I would ever look at him the same, especially after the catheter incident... I shuddered as I revisited my attempted repressed memory, laying the shot gun next to him on the floor. He was still sleeping like a baby.
“Okay, bud, you stay here, and keep an eye on the Jeep. I am going to find my parents and try and explain that I am a Lycan thingy, and that you are a pack leader refugee, and we are both screwed.” I figured what I said was falling on deaf ears and smiled. Turns out that on a long car journey, talking to comatose person can be quite relaxing. I should bring one with me on vacation next time.
The interior of the house was the same as the exterior, cold and vacant. There was nothing out of place, nothing broken. Everything had a film of dust on it, like it had been left empty for a while.
What the hell? There was simply no sign of life, all the belongings remained. There was an odd musky scent. It was a new and unwelcome smell to the house, like the sweet and bitter aroma of a stagnant bottle of beer.
Other than that, it was the same as I had left it. The scent was palatable; it was a stagnated essence. Kind of like the sweet and bitter aroma from a bottle of beer. I stalked around the house. My bedroom seemed tidier than I left it. With the clothes all neatly put away, the scent was washing over me in waves, almost triggering a gag reflex. On my pillow there was a small card intricately designed with golden vines bordering some ornate writing.
We will own you. I froze, staring at the words. A feint metallic scent was emanating from the card; a familiar scent. I sniffed the card again for good measure.
“It's blood,” a low voice said from behind me. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“What the hell?! I thought you were still out cold!” I screeched, a little shaken from Lycaon’s sudden appearance.
“We heal quickly. What are we doing here, and where are the others? I cannot hear them; I can only smell the remnants of their scents on you.” He was leaning with his back on the doorway, slowly looking around at each poster I had on my wall. He looked under whelmed, to say the least.
“Okay first off, we heal quickly? Secondly, I wanted to come here; the others are gone, and third... You’re saying you smell me?” I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted or not. Lycaon looked on at me with his nostrils flaring.
“It's not safe for us here. What does the card say?” He asked in the same monochromatic tone.
“It says, happy birthday.” I retorted. “How is it not safe here? It looks to me that my parents haven't been around in weeks.” Lycaon was still looking at me expectantly. There was another brief awkward silence.
“Look.” I handed Lycaon the card.
“Do you know what it means, because I don’t have a freaking clue? We will own you.”
A sick feeling had crept over me, hitting the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t sure if it was hunger or if was the smell that had finally gotten to me. I patiently waited for Lycaon’s reply, hoping that it was going to be a good one.
“It looks like the Venetians have taken your parents; there is little we can do… Ursine… we must leave... Now!”
Lycaon turned, rocking forward from the doorway, he headed to the Jeep. I was flabbergasted ... hesitantly I followed. There was a long silence that seemed to last for hours, but in reality was probably only moments. The notion that my parents were missing had done a number on me. I had lots of questions that I wanted to ask, but had forgotten how. We left the house without so much as looking back. It was all that I had been thinking of for the past seventy-two hours or so: Get home, apologize profusely, and carry on with life as normal. Who the fuck are the Venetians, anyway!
Finally, Lycaon broke the deadlocked silence and spoke, “Ursine… I know you must be worried; you have probably considered getting the authorities involved, but they will not help you. The Venetians are a family of vampires; what they lack in numbers, they make up in strength and cunning. The only one that can help to get them back is us, and that means that you have to be ready to fight,” Lycaon said. After being on the road for ages, we finally pulled over into a dirt lot in the outskirt of a forest; we took a while to peel his bandages off, put them in a plastic sack, and stretched. He nodded for me to follow; my head was still spinning.
“I know that you feel pretty lost; I too share your pain. My family has been taken. Now you must put those feelings aside for a moment. Ursine, we found you as an intruder; you associated with the witch and her familiar. The Summers had to have coordinated with her to strike at the same time; it can’t be a coincidence, and not to forget the Venetians... And that means that you are, quite possibly, an asset. I can sense that you are a Lycanthrope like me. So, Ursine... Change.” Lycaon all but spat the words at me; I couldn’t help but look at him as if he were speaking another language. He released an anguished sigh at my stunned expression. “You have changed before; we had followed your scent, which was similar to our own, the smell of charred skin from your transformation. When we found you, you were sleeping with the caribou…”
He began to glow, and his skin cracked with fissures, appearing with a dull red luminescent light. He shook violently, and his skin combusted, exploding into his wolf form. Pacing towards me, his gigantic form was awe inspiring. Defend yourself! Lycaon’s voice sounded in my head. I felt like a piñata about to get busted open with a bat. He was still closing the gap between us.
He is going to stop before he mauls me, right? My question to myself went unanswered. I panicked. Picking up a log, I swiped furiously at him as he knocked me through the air; I collided into a tree. My back and ribs cracked and buckled with the impact. I rolled onto my front, coughing. I spat out some blood.
“What the hell, dude, I don't know how.” The searing pain was burning me from the inside out, tears began to well up. My back was throbbing, and my head and heart pounded. Lycaon crouched in front of me, a snarl rippling from his chest. Even though it felt like the blow should have liquefied my lungs, with each draw of breath, the pain subsided. My pulse was racing... Was I actually enjoying getting my ass kicked?
Good, if you were not part Lycanthrope that blow would have killed you. Now stop fighting your pain and embrace it. Again Lycaon’s voice echoed in my head, and I was sure that I never saw his muzzle flicker. Lycaon really wasn't much of a joker, from what I could tell, and yet he was taking the opportunity to perform a ventriloquism trick? Maybe it was a poor attempt at humour; in any case, I wasn’t impressed.
I rose to my knees, my heart thrummed more violently; I was beginning to draw in jagged breaths of air. Lycaon came at me again, a blur of movement as his gigantic form flew towards me gracefully for something of that size, carving through the air as swift as a bird of prey. It was truly terrifying.
He nudged me with his snout, sending me and my six-foot five inch body toppling head over toe upwards. I wasn’t overcome with the rapturous feeling of zero gravity. In fact, the idea that I was going to reconnect to the ground made me cover my face with my useless hands. The only problem was I wasn’t aware what direction the ground was... Well until I smacked the back of my head on the ground beneath; the jolt of pain, almost making me jump to my feet running around like a headless chicken, except I had forgotten how to move. Lycaon walked over to my damaged body sniffing as he approached, I gurgled and spat blood out. The edges of my vision were dulling, like a dimmer switch had been triggered with the impact.
“I-I told you I don’t know how or why...” I was fading out of consciousness... possibly life... My breathing was laboured, and my heart beat was becoming fainter.
Maybe they were wrong about you... You’re worthless. I pity you and your “family”. Lycaon’s words struck a nerve... Something began to stir inside. I heard a feint rumble of a growl ripple from my chest. I was beginning to change. At first it was like my skin was hardening, becoming thicker and complete solidifying. I felt my heartbe
at grow stronger and begin to beat to a different rhythm. I flexed anxiously and felt my chrysalis layer of skin crack and begin to flake away; dissolving on the breeze that lightly ruffled the leaves in the branches. All of my wounds vanished with my flaky layer of skin. The only thought on my mind was of my family and friends. If I couldn’t go to anyone for help, I was going to do all I could. But something was wrong; it was like I had chummed shark infested water with blood and bits. I wasn’t in control, I was awake at least, but I was watching myself being controlled by something I only thought I had imagined once... I had a dark passenger.
Show me yourself. Wait... Si, what are you? His words were cut off as my inner voice took over. I rushed at him through the cloud of smoke that was engulfing my form, knocking him through the air. He released a yelp as he turned to rebound off of the ground, countering me in mid-air, his jaws clamped on my neck. I swiped at him with my arms; I wasn’t limited to fore and hind legs like a canine. Blood sprayed the air, staining the nearby area. My vision hazed like rose tinted glassed without the romance.
Remember you are human; you hold the form. He snarled as he shook off the wound, if he had not twisted, kicking off me as we crashed to the ground, my claws would have cut straight through him. My dark passenger lusted for his blood, craving the taste of his flesh. His step faltered, and I plunged forward again. This time he rolled around me, flinging dirt in my face. He moved eloquently relative to my savage staggering. My passenger’s blind rage erupted with a deafening roar as I swiped the air where Lycaon had lingered.
Get in control before it overcomes you completely, Ursine. I could hear his voice as a distant echo now. I felt like I had been smoking with Mike and was watching a movie. It was all unreal and hazy. Now he seized an opportunity as I queried with myself, assaulting me from behind; his fangs sunk into my back. With a defiant roar my dark alternate spun around, striking at him, sending him sailing through the air again, he collided with a boulder. Chips fragmented into the air, and he rose, shaking his head wearily. My dark passenger barrelled towards him before he had a chance to evade. I had him pinned to the floor. My mouth was awash with his warm, sticky blood. It flowed into my mouth, and I began to bite down harder. Lycaon squirmed furiously, his hind legs kicking into my face, trying to wriggle free. Tufts of fur were being gouged out, but my dark passenger was unperturbed.
If you kill me, we will not be able to find your family, and you will be consumed, forever trapped in your own mind. He strained the words; the flow of blood was beginning to slow. My alternate was getting ready to extinguish him, and my jaws gradually clamped together. Family? My tension on his neck began to ease off; it was like waking from a dream state. I released him, shaking the proverbial cobwebs from my head, my actions dawning on me.
“Sorry” I whimpered, I gagged with the very real taste in my mouth of his blood, spitting out chunks of flesh and fur. I backed away at the horror scene laid before me. He wasn't moving. I threw up my contents. This new form was horrifying; every sound, every, scent, was penetrating and re-wiring my brain and nerve endings. My face burned lightly, where he had taken divots out of my head attempting to squirm free.
“Don't be sorry, I provoked you, assuming that you would change into a wolf. You’re magnificent, truly. I assumed that having already changed before you would be easier to control. What was your trigger?” Lycaon asked; his voice barely audible where I had nearly bitten his head off. Strands of his muscles began to rapidly heal and reconnect.
“I... don’t know; it was like I was watching the whole thing from afar, and when you mentioned my family, I was just suddenly there again.” I was unsure what to say... To be honest, I was completely freaking out with what was going on. Lycaon nodded; apparently he accepted and understood what I was saying... Well at least that made one of us.
“It can be like that the first time. It can be overwhelming with all the new senses you develop. In some cases, like yourself, the Lycan takes hold. In the clan I descend from, we call it our rite of passage. It usually first manifests in early adolescent stages... You are forced to find your reason for shifting. But what makes you odd is that you are nearly fully developed.”
Honestly, I didn’t have a clue as to what he was prattling on about... but with me, that wasn’t saying a lot.
“Do you think you could change... handle changing again?” Lycaon asked, shaking some dirt and twigs from his coat. I looked up at him; his eyes were glowing amber with coal pits in the centre. His white head was masked with his dark grey furrowing brow. It stretched across his crown to his tail, which swayed slightly. Dark brown smudges were staining his great snout.
I had never been truly in control of my emotions. Most of my life, aside from my caustic wit, I had a temper to try and keep bottled up... It didn’t always work as I am sure you can tell with me giving in and nearly killing Lycaon, but my mom always said “If you want to fight, join the army!” I never actually thought there was any deep meaning to that, but now... looking back, I guess I can see what she meant. If I am going to fight for something, then it had to be something I believe in. And in this case it was: Don’t kill the guy who can help reunite me with my family.
“That feeling of torment will come back in time.” Lycaon caught me off guard as he spoke out.
“What?” I asked, completely baffled... Okay so maybe saying my wit was “caustic” was a little bit of an exaggeration for this part...
“The Inner animal will return in time, and it will test you for control. It is why it is better to change on a regular basis to make sure it is well exercised. Otherwise, it will take control and consume your humanity entirely.” Lycaon didn’t really sound like Mr Miyagi, but I suppose I can appreciate the effort. After all, I did nearly kill him... There was another thought that troubled me now though. A few times Lycaon had spoken out of turn as if plucking my thoughts from mid-air.
“Yes, Ursine, I can read your mind, and you mine. How else do you think we are communicating, in a series of growls and barks?” Lycaon said.
That time it was plain creepy as I was in the middle of forming my own freaking thoughts.
“Awesome, so you are a psycho.”
“Ursine, it is telepath, or psychic, not psycho. Now let’s practice changing back.” Lycaon was sounding more and more exhausted with having to deal with me, a similar trait to all my teachers.
“I know what I mean, and I mean that you are a psycho; why would you want to provoke me if you weren’t even sure what I was?” My question lingered in the air for a moment, he didn’t answer.
He padded over to the Jeep. Considering how close we were to it, it was amazing how we did not destroy it... well how I did not. He nudged the boots lid, clutching a navy duffel bag in his jaws; he then set it onto the ground with a yawn.
“I find the easiest way to revert is to think of the releasing moments after sex; the peace and the calm.” Lycaon was speaking very seriously, but as soon as he mentioned sex, it felt as awkward as having the “safe sex” speech with my mom... Oh my god that was humiliating.
“What about the regret? I mean sometimes of course.” I attempted to smile at him in my grizzly phase; I could feel the saliva cascade from my mouth.
Note to self... Practice smiling whilst in “Grr” form.
He didn't seem to be paying any attention, closing his eyes; he tilted his head back drawing in a huge breath. You could see him relax as he stood on his hind legs, sighing enigmatically. His form had changed in the blink of an eye as his fur shed instantaneously and turned to dust, floating amply on the breeze. It was like watching sand pass peacefully in an hour glass. He looked up at me; his eyes were still a thick shade of amber. Slowly they dissolved to his hazel shade, and he was back to naked normality. I was kind of shocked to see the wolf dissolve like that so gracefully. I could only hope to look that cool.
“I also find it can help if you remember what it is to feel human, like how the coarseness of the littered ground would feel on your bare feet. T
ry to stand on your hind legs, it may help.” Lycaon walked over to the bag, unzipping it and pulling out some clothes, quickly covering himself.
I figured if it was as easy as it looked then why not give it a go myself. I sucked in a deep breath, rising on my hind legs my upper form took me off balance. I wasn’t used to how I felt; the huge muscle on my back pulled me off balance. I could feel myself swaying too far backwards as my form began to deteriorate; the fur crumbled away into dust as I toppled over backwards, crashing into the ground, in a cloud of dust. I choked and rasped, quickly hoisting myself to my feet. I was pretty sure that I was standing with a pine cone lodged in my butt.
Okay another mental note, practice standing on my hind legs... I couldn't help but chortle at my own inability to stand.
***
We trained for hours, moving deeper into the forest so as not to draw any unwanted attention if there were a passer-by. I was finding it easier to change; my trigger was the need to protect, as soon as I focused on that, I could rupture into the beast. Lycaon was impressed with how fast I was progressing. He thought it was because I had already lived through the prepubescent fluctuations that early teens have to grind through, so I was slightly more in control of my hormones and testosterone to a point. He was, however, completely confused to how I was the only Lycan he knew that took the form of a bear. I tried to explain in detail what that psycho Kaitlyn had explained to me. I was getting better at changing back, too; although keeping my balance was still a struggle.
I lay exhausted against a mossy trunk, splinter’s lay strewn across the ground. I had been attacked over and over again, Lycaon was right, he wouldn't fall victim to me twice. He used his speed and dexterity to his full advantage, always moving at the last possible moment, ducking and weaving, then vanishing in a blur, before attacking me from above or beside. Honing in my instincts was almost unbearably difficult; after all, I was using muscles that, before this week, had not existed. I was always taken back with the devastation my claws could reap; shredding bark and granite like it was tissue paper. It was nice to have a break for moment and to be able to collect my thoughts while Lycaon went off in search for food. We had to eat then get moving again; he never did mention his concern for his sister. I tried to talk about it a few times, but he would just tell me to focus on training for now. It was frustrating. Sitting with my thoughts was not the best of ideas; it turned out as I was asking myself the same questions that had risen: