by E. S Night
“We’ll be right there Abigail don’t move, in the meantime try to keep him hydrated, his first time will be bad. There’s a key under the red stone in the front garden, let yourself in and just make sure he keeps drinking.” Grayson ordered hanging up the phone.
I put the phone down to my knee; Logan was still staring at me. “What’s happening?”
“You’re turning Logan. What’s the last thing you remember?” I didn’t want to scare him.
“I remember more now, I was in the garden and those men were attacking us. The Hales, they all turned into wolves and those men – they were – witches or something. The older one tried to hurt Ella and then he attacked me. Colton, he saved me.” Logan looked as if he was in a kind of daydream.
“That’s right, but he accidentally bit you Logan, he couldn’t catch you quick enough any other way and then you fell unconscious and your heart stopped in hospital, you died. Now you're transforming into one of them. We’ll know more about it when the Hale’s explain it to us.” I tried to help my brother understand.
“So, mum and dad, they think I’m dead?”
“Well, I’m hoping on the journey over here, Grayson is trying to tell them you’re not dead, so it won’t be as much of a shock to them when they see you here.” I touched Logan’s shoulder.
“Of course, it will be a shock Abigail; I was dead for God’s sake – what a stupid thing to say. Now what rock did he say, the red one?” Logan jumped out of the car heading towards the front garden.
“You mean, you heard our conversation?”
“Yep, I guess it must be a new perk from being a wolf.” He smiled confidently; I was amazed at how well he was handling all of this.
“You’re not a wolf yet; we need to know more about this.”
“Well I will be, I can feel it happening to me.” Logan confessed opening the door with the key.
“And that’s exactly what I’m afraid of.” I admitted closing the front door behind us.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Transformation
I was forcing water down my brother’s throat when I heard a car pull into the driveway.
“Stay here.” I instructed Logan, unaware of what Grayson had told my parents whilst they were travelling over here. I ran to the hallway to greet them when Grayson caught my shoulders stopping me from going any further.
“Where is he?” Mum questioned me, pushing herself through the door. My dad followed her, frightened of seeing Logan alive. Obviously, Grayson had told them a lot in their fifteen-minute car ride.
“He’s in the kitchen, it’s through there.” I said, pointing along the corridor.
“What did you tell them?” I asked Grayson quietly, letting him kiss my cheek.
“I told them what I told you and I’ve got to say they’re coping with it a lot better than you did.” He laughed, as we waited for the rest of his family to get out of the car.
We heard my parents scream out in joy, elated by Logan’s presence.
“Hi Abi, I’m so happy for your family.” Anna cried, hugging me as she entered the house along with Aidan.
“Well isn’t this something kid.” Rafe said smiling at me, pinching the bottom of my chin with enthusiasm. Maria said nothing, she just pulled me close to her chest, embracing me in front of everyone – this was a first.
“I’m glad he survived Abigail.” Isaac squeezed me, his hug was far too firm, and it almost made me wish for the old Isaac to come back, almost.
“I’m so sorry.” Colton said, shoving everyone out-of-the-way to console me.
I grinned. “It's fine Colt, he’s fine.”
“Well – that’s not exactly true.” Kaleb uttered whilst walking through the entrance.
I scoffed. “What do you mean?”
Kaleb edged towards the living room. “Get your parents and Logan Abigail, I think it’s time we all had a talk.” He seemed more troubled than usual.
Everyone made their way through to the lounge, I insisted on my parents and Logan moving to the next room so they could ask any questions they had, I’m sure there were many. We sat there for a few minutes, Kaleb hesitantly
waiting for us to be comfortable.
Grayson tugged me close onto his seat, making me laugh by pulling me off the arm of his chair.
“Kathryn – Henry, I’m sure you have many questions you want to ask us about what we told you in the car.” Kaleb spoke quickly. “But what I need to say right this minute, concerns just Logan. It’s important you know in our pack’s history of transformation none of our kind have ever turned anyone by blood transference, it’s a complete myth in our culture.”
“So, what does that mean for Logan, why’s he the first one? Not that I’m complaining, whatever you have done for him has brought him back to us.” Mum responded, smiling at dad.
“That’s what I’m trying to say, we didn’t try to make this happen, it just did. There’s a legend that’s been circling our breed since I can remember, the fable of the black wolf. Now from Logan’s back and forth erratic transformation, I can see that his skin is changing to a darker colour, there’s a chance that Logan is the guardian.” Kaleb announced, raising even more questions in our minds.
“Can we all stop talking about me as if I’m not
even here please, what’s a guardian?” Logan was getting irritated.
“I apologise Logan.” Kaleb said, allowing Rafe to interrupt.
“There’s not a chance Kaleb, he is the guardian – the first wolf to be transformed not from birth but from a blood rebirth will be the guardian, how much clearer does our history have to be -”
“What the hell is a guardian!” Dad shouted, surprisingly pulling a sense of order back into the discussion.
After a few seconds of complete silence brought about from dad’s outburst, Rafe finally explained. “The guardian is created to protect the last king of our kind. The last king is supposedly going to end the war with the Lasair indefinitely, it's Logan’s job to make sure that happens by protecting him.”
“I’ve never even heard of the guardian.” Colton spoke.
“I taught you boys all about it when you were younger, do you ever listen Colt?” Kaleb said, confronting Colton’s laziness.
“I’m sorry – can we get back on track here, who is the last king he needs to protect?” Mum
jumped in before anyone else could.
“Was there ever a first king?” I asked.
“We don’t know Abigail; the last king is just a legend from our kind. It’s just what it’s always been called.” Rafe answered me.
“He’s not been born yet, although judging from Logan’s age, we now suspect the king will be born within the next twenty years or so, which gives us a slight time frame. Until then Logan can learn from us, we can teach him to control his power and his changes.” Kaleb assured my mum of Logan’s welfare.
“Wait – erm, that’s great and all, but you said yourself that’s in at least twenty years from now so can we possibly focus on the question I have now which is - when will I turn into a wolf? Because this transforming stuff is stupid, my body can’t decide what it’s doing!” Logan yelled, upset with his body’s rate of change.
“We don’t know Logan, I wish we could answer you but you’re the first to transform this way so we have nothing to compare it to, it’s just going to be a waiting game I’m afraid.” Kaleb spoke softly trying not to anger my brother any more.
“Are you kidding? No, that’s not good
enough!” Logan screamed, his testosterone was running through the roof.
Logan’s hair was growing; black fur emerged from his skin. His bones drastically changed shape, extending and lengthening his limbs. My brother’s transformation was nothing like the Hales, they could shape shift easily into their counterparts, but Logan’s change was horrifying to watch. As he cried out in pain, Rafe and Isaac ushered my parents and Ella out of the room, fearful of their actions whilst Logan was suffering.
I wanted to be with him when he transformed, he needed to know I was there. His bones were breaking in place, rupturing his skin as they moved across his body; I wondered when this awfulness would end. Logan’s eyes were the last thing to shift; a bright yellow glow seemed to stem from his pupils. Finally, he collapsed on the wooden floor exhausted.
He was now a wolf. I ran straight over to him holding his body, eager to comfort him. He was much bigger than the Hales and I couldn’t help but think - as he got older, how much larger would he grow? There was no doubt in my mind he was now the guardian in which the Hale’s had just discussed.
Logan turned his beastly head towards me gazing into my eyes, he was still my brother. He immediately licked my face, seeing the funny side of his situation.
“Logan, stop it!” I cried, laughing reacting to his tongue pressing heavily against my skin.
He continued licking my face, tickling me all over my neck playfully; my parents must have heard my chuckling because moments later they opened the door.
“Logan.” Mum whispered, in shock from her son’s appearance. He turned around to see mum and scuttled towards the door in excitement, causing her to back away in fright. My brother realised his brazen approach had scared our parents and slowly laid down in front of them hoping to soften their fear. My dad reached out his hand to touch Logan, he moved his head into dad’s palm showing them that everything was okay.
Mum must have sensed Logan’s feelings because she knelt to comfort him, stroking his beautiful fur. “How long will this last?” She asked, staring at Kaleb.
“We don’t know, I have no idea. Usually a wolf’s first change is harder to come out of and
they’re like this for around three days.” He explained.
“Three days, seriously?” Dad cried.
Isaac paced towards Logan. “Hold on, let me try something.”
“What are you doing son?” Kaleb asked him confused by Isaac’s actions.
“I think I have an idea, I’ve sort of been working on something.” He held the front of Logan’s head. “Logan, listen. Look me straight in the eyes.” Isaac continued talking about nothing, lulling my brother into a false sense of security. As he spoke, Isaac carefully released his belt from his pants, holding the gold buckle in his right hand. Suddenly, Isaac jabbed Logan’s paw with the point of the buckle drawing blood, forcing my brother to howl.
“What are you doing, are you crazy!” Dad yelled in a rage.
Isaac opened the black cross around his neck, it was a locket with a dried-out plant inside. “Give me a minute.”
Logan growled at Isaac. “Hold on Logan, I promise this will work.” He pressed the plant on my brother's wound.
“Is that what I think it is? What are you
doing?” Grayson screamed at him, knowing something we didn’t. Isaac removed the plant causing my brother to crumble to the floor, lying on his side.
“What have you done?” Maria rushed to Logan’s body.
“Just wait – for God’s sake, trust me.” Isaac declared, leading Kaleb to stop Maria.
Logan changed again, but this time his wolf form was fading, bringing him back to us. The reversal was quick and painless; my brother woke up a few minutes later hugging Isaac, causing him to fall back on the floor in laughter.
“You’re welcome kid.” Isaac laughed.
“What was that?” Logan asked him with a smile.
Isaac grinned. “Wolfsbane, I’ve been practising with it for a while now, trying to control my powers on a different level. It seems to work for me when I’ve pushed myself too much; I thought it would work for you.”
“What do you mean practising?” Kaleb continued.
“What do you mean pushing yourself too much?” Maria asked bemused at her son’s secrecy.
“I think we are capable of more and I’m trying things out, it’s safe what I’m doing.” Isaac justified.
“Yeah, it sounds like it when you need wolfsbane to bring yourself back.” Colton uttered sarcastically mocking his brother’s behaviour.
“Will you train me?” Logan said, directing his question to Isaac.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea, I’m not sure your parents would like that.” He looked down at the floor.
“I think it’s a good idea, he needs to learn, right? Logan’s different from the rest of you, it might be good to push him a little more.” Dad answered, causing everyone to look at him.
“Really?” Logan asked, gazing at mum.
Mum sighed. “Erm if your dad thinks it’s a good idea, then why not? I want to be here when he practices though, got it?”
“Yes, definitely.” Isaac smiled back at Logan.
“We’ll all be there; I want to see more of Isaac’s suggestions.” Kaleb expressed, proud of his son’s initiative.
“Can we get something to eat now?” Logan asked out of nowhere, concentrating on his stomach’s cry for food. His forwardness made
everyone laugh, releasing some of the tension from the room.
“Of course, what do you fancy Logan? – For once I don’t think it would hurt if we all ordered something to eat.” Maria said kindly, trying to make an effort with my family.
“Pizza! Please.” Logan shouted grinning at Ella.
“Pizza it is then.” Maria walked towards the hallway to get the phone.
“Kathryn and Henry, I think considering what’s happened with the Lasair and Logan it would be best if you could stay here for tonight, maybe even a few days so we can alert the counsel to what’s happened. I need clarification from them for me to know what to do next.” Kaleb explained.
My parents looked at each other and smiled. “Of course, we’ll stay here, it’s probably for the best till we can figure this out, it’s not like I have any more guests at the B&B, anyway.” Mum described.
“How are we going to explain what happened to Logan? Eventually they will realise he's missing from the hospital.” Dad asked.
“I've been thinking about that. Perhaps with
the help of Isaac and Grayson we can use compulsion to our advantage. Don't worry about any of that, we will sort it. I’m so sorry all of this happened to you.” Kaleb expressed showing his compassion.
“I think all of this was supposed to happen Kaleb, I blame none of you – I’m just glad my son’s okay.” Mum said, touched by Kaleb’s sincere apology. I was pleased that Grayson’s parents and mine seemed to hit it off but something was still raging inside of me, bursting to come out.
“Wait! Before we try to make sense of all of this, I really need to tell you and Grayson something.” I gazed at my parents, realising that I had to say something to them.
“What is it Abigail?” Grayson stroked my hand to comfort me.
“It’s about Konrad.” I said, seeing my mum’s eyes brighten. “Mum, did you know he was adopted?”
My mum was silent for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. “How do you know that?”
“So, you knew?”
“Abigail what is this about?” She was irritated by my interrogation.
“He’s one of them, I’m sure Grayson told you all about them in the car over here, he’s part of the Lasair, oh no wait! He is the Lasair, he’s the leader – he’s been playing us all along.” I cried.
“No, he’s not, that’s not possible.” She said seeming so sure of herself.
“Well he is, did you not wonder why he didn’t stick around tonight when he dropped you off?” I wondered if I was taking this conversation too far. Although I couldn’t help it! How could she not know something was wrong with him, how could I not know?
“I don’t know where he went Abigail, but I’m sure there’s –”
“No there’s not a good explanation, the only explanation, is that he’s Lasair, and he figured out I knew, so he walked away, that’s it.” I was fixating all my anger on mum.
“Is that true?” She asked, looking at everyone in the room.
“She’s telling the truth Kathr
yn, he was clever; I bet he talked about us all the time and joined in conversations about Grayson with Abigail and your family, but he was never actually in the same room with any of us, was he? He knew if we saw him, we could identify him and we did
just that in the hospital as you and Henry came to meet us, he saw us and left. His real name is William.” Kaleb encouraged mum to believe him.
“I can’t believe it, he’s always protected me, and he went to prison because he protected me.”
“He wasn’t in jail.” Isaac intervened.
“What?” Dad spoke.
Isaac moved closer to my dad. “William was never in jail, when we were waiting for you in the cafeteria; I made some calls to see if I could get any more information about him using his alias Konrad Burke. He never went to prison; in fact, there was no record of a hearing, a court date – nothing. William just disappeared off the radar for a few years and then reappeared when he contacted you again.”
“That’s not true, I was there, and I had to give a testimony. Konrad went to prison; I was in the courtroom when he got sentenced.” Mum was shaking with fear.
“There’s not any record of any of it Mrs Lawson.” Isaac said honestly.
“You didn’t visit him in prison, did you?” Maria expressed quietly not wanting to overwhelm my mum, which was too late for that.
“No, he said he didn’t want me reminding him
of the things he was missing.” Mum’s tears were falling from her eyes.
“So, that means that the Lasair found him and set it up like a real court case or they covered it up and made it look like the incident never happened, which is more likely. You said he was missing for a few years? That’s more than enough time to remind him of whom he is and mould him back into their leader.” Kaleb described.