Everything around me rattled loudly, leaving my ears ringing. I tried my best to hide within the barrel I found myself in. They had left me with no choice but to store myself in a stupid container. This was to find my way into an airship headed to Celestelia, where time distortions had appeared a week ago. There was no way I would miss this. I had waited all my life for this moment to come.
After all, I would finally meet with my fate. Though... my family had left me behind because it was too ‘dangerous’!
‘Bah! It will be anything but that!’
Although... it was a bit terrifying.
‘What if something goes wrong? What if I chicken out? Fuck...’
I could afford none of that. I had to do this perfectly if I wanted my freedom. The liberty that I would chase to the end of the world for. Grabbing hold of my over-the-ear headphones, I blasted music to tune out everything around me. It even tuned out all the loud noises from the airship’s luggage hitting the walls. Why did I find myself inside a cargo hold rather than one room for guests on the ship? Well... I was not supposed to be here.
This was only supposed to carry supplies Dad had ordered. No, I was supposed to be back home. They fated me to wait for my dear family’s return from ending the evil, a certain mad Lycan posed. But I had other plans. Important ones! Perhaps if I saved the world, I could finally prove my independence to them. That was very important to me.
Maybe my brothers and sister would finally look at me as something else than baggage. It was what I felt most of the time. But hey, I did not let that bother me too much. After all, this was my redemption arc! I would show them all how independent I truly was. Surely, I needed no protection from them! Though... I hated that every time the airship hit the turbulence, my head would bang against the secured barrel; I hid myself in.
Though... luckily it was a brief ride since we landed only a few hours later. When the cargo hold was going to be unloaded, I tried to peek out of a small hole the barrel had. I had to see what was happening around me. Sadly, it was not long before one worker picked me up and tried to carry me out. But he gave up and ended up rolling me down the ramp instead.
That almost made me hurl. Luckily, I did not, instead; I felt somewhat offended that they did that. I was not that heavy to begin with. The gall that puny human had. Although annoyed, I could do very little while I found myself rolled into a tent. It was used to store all the supplies needed for this adventure to stop the evil from slipping into this world.
However, I had to wait until nightfall to make my move. Even though I desperately had to relieve myself. It was a bad idea to drink water before the ship. Though there were many times, I almost pissed myself in fear of being caught early.
Luckily, no one peeked into the barrel I was in. It was supposed to be filled with rice, but I dumped it back in Silverant when no one was looking. Surely, they would not miss one barrel of rice. After all, there were others filled with it for that same purpose.
Turning off my mp3 player and headset, I stored them in my bag, not wanting to drain the energy they had for later use. However, the moment I did, comments came my way.
‘What are you doing?’ someone said from inside the barrel, startling me.
For a moment, I had forgotten that these dreadful things plagued me. I gazed towards the voice to notice a blue orb floating with me inside the barrel.
‘Just my luck.’
They even had them here in Celestelia. Ignoring it, I continued to listen to the others around the camp, only for the noisy orb to continue to pester me.
‘Hey, I am talking to you. I know you can hear me.’ The orb continued to engage with me, much to my annoyance.
It was determined to catch my attention. I set myself on not giving it any time of day. Though that usually failed.
“Shut up...” I muttered, trying to figure out what the others were planning from my hiding spot.
My hearing was not as good as a Lycan's, but it had its perks. There seemed at least one guard out from the tent I found myself in. Maybe for the hybrids that lived nearby not to steal anything.
‘Bummer...’
‘But what are you doing?’ The ghost continued to pester me to the point I blew up.
I always did. I guess my temper was not the best either. My diluted Lycan blood did not mix well.
“I don’t care if you need me for some fucking thing! Ghost, go away! I don’t have time for you today!” I snapped, trying to stay concentrated on my task.
More orbs appeared, much to my annoyance. Once I answered, more always came. I never learned my lesson.
‘But we are so lonely.’ Another ghost complained.
Yes, that was right. These orbs were ghosts of people who did not want to pass into the next life. Stragglers with wants and regrets. And all dead set on pestering me!
“I don’t care!” I shouted quickly, covering my mouth right after.
I hoped no one was around to listen to my stupid outburst. It was always like this. Getting me into trouble when I did not need it.
‘Fucking ghosts...’
Much to my horror, the guard outside heard me. They entered the room, wondering what the fuck they had perceived. At least it was someone I did not know. If it had been... Someone would have caught me already.
Shivers ran down my spine, closing my eyes to calm me. I tried slowing my breaths to make no noise. They stepped around the boxes, trying to figure out where they heard the sound. Fortunately, and unfortunately, someone familiar to me called them from outside of the tent.
However, if they were this near, then I... was in grave danger.
“Yo, do we have some fruits to snack on?” The too familiar voice asked the guard that was supposed to be outside of the tent.
My heart was nonexistent. Noticing he was needed; the guard exited the tent to see who was the one asking him.
“Oh, Caden, it is you. I will take some out for you.” The guard informed, going back into the tent, opening the box near where I was.
My heart was racing as he searched in the boxes near me. All I could do was pray Caden would not come in or else he would find me.
‘I this would happen! Shit! This is not fair at all!’
Years were being shaved from my life!
“Yup, Vera wants some apples if you have them,” Caden informed, gathering fruits for Vera.
From the sound of his voice, it sounded more like a chore than anything else. Though... Vera always got her way.
“Anything else?” The guard wondered if the young silver Lycan needed anything else.
He was already searching for the apples, though.
“A solitary bath... we have been here for five days and still nothing. I don’t think I can take another day here.” Caden complained.
He rather invested his time in other things. It seemed like there was only one bath to be used here for everyone. Well, one for women and one for men. An uncomfortable thing one would think, but since I desired to be out more than anything. I honestly would not care if the baths were unisex.
“Sorry about that. I can’t help you with that.” The guard chuckled, thinking Caden was joking.
He handed the Lucan fruits from the storage. I could imagine those fluffy ears of his tilting down.
“Yup, I know...” Caden sighed, preparing to leave.
But before he did, something caught his attention. Taking a step into the tent, I felt like my heart would stop. A mini heart attack that shaved years of my poor life with each step he took!
“What were you looking for before I interrupted you?” My brother, Caden, questioned the guard who turned back towards the tent, too.
‘Fuck!’
“I thought I heard someone yell, but I guess it must have been elsewhere. The camp is always rowdy.” The guard shrugged, not finding anything in the storage from his quick search.
“Hm...” Caden stood there for a second, shaking his head.
“Nah, it can’t be. She can’t be that stupid.” He mumbled.
I fought the urge to break out and tell him I indeed was not stupid. However, luckily, he left soon after, leaving me unsteady after what had happened.
‘Hey, they almost caught you!’ The annoying ghost continued to chat me up after the danger had passed.
Trying to not let myself be swayed by these gremlins a second time, I covered my ears and eyes with my hands and knees, but only music ever tuned them out enough to bring me to peace. Their chatter drove me crazy. It was nonstop, but it would only get worse from here. In the forest, we were located. There had been a battle twenty years ago, making it a great place for spirits to gather and haunt me.
Unlike my more powerful sister, Vera, my power was unstable. It made me unable to stop these ghosts from barraging me. Mom usually struggled with her own voices, but they were not from this world as mine. They usually got worse the more agitated I got, so to combat it. I used some relaxation techniques, Mom taught me.
I closed my eyes and tried to think of one of my precious memories to tune them out. The moment I first saw... Before I knew it, I drifted off into a slumber and a dream. It was warm. One where I played with my brothers and father, but soon I found myself in familiar scenery, unable to stop the nightmare from reoccurring.
“Rem, you should not follow us up here, you know that!” Aiden yelled at me.
I tried to make my way up onto the roof where they were. Nothing would stop me. Especially their annoying teasing.
“Yeah, a luma like you should not do what we do!” Caden taunted me, pushing me even further.
“I will do as I please!” I asserted from where I was, trying to climb up the stupid pole they had used with ease.
It was unfair how they were both Lycans! Wolves! Their fluffy silver tails and ears were also illegal! Why did I only have a tail! Even though it was difficult, I somehow made enough progress for Caden finally to help me up to where they were.
“Not bad for a luma.” Caden grinned happily.
He was pleased that I had made it, while I growled in response. His long silver hair and red eyes were so like Dad’s. Aiden was the same. It was like looking in the mirror when they two faced each other. The only identical twins from the quad.
“I have a name, Cady.” I pouted.
He chuckled and scuffed up my hair. He was such a bully, even though I knew all he wanted to do was push me to see if I could do it. Aiden seemed bothered by the fact I was here. He was more worried about what would happen if something happened to me. After all, I was not as durable as them. Something I wanted to rearrange.
“Dad will yell at us if something happens to you!” Aiden tried to make me go back down.
I frowned, sticking my tongue out at him.
“I will be fine!” I huffed, getting up to the tiles.
Aiden rolled his eyes, already perceiving trouble.
“Plus, you two are not supposed to be here either!” I added for them both to look at me like a tattletale, but I was no snitch!
“The maid is such a bore, that we wanted to explore. Oh, that rhymed!” Caden commented with a smirk on his lips, walking past me and towards his brother, who shook his head.
“But with you here, it will only slow us down. Like always,” Aiden complained, not wanting to stop for me.
Usually, when we were out, Dad would always make sure I would keep up with them. I was always on his back, too. The wind in my hair was amazing. Sadly, I could not shift into my wolf form. Sometimes lumas could not shift because their human side was stronger than the Lycan, which appeared to be my case. I mean, I did not even have the fluffy ears, just the tail. While my actual ears were pointy rather than the normal round ones humans had, though.
I would get confused for a peredhil, a half-elf. It usually would happen if I ever was hiding my tail inside my clothes.
“I will not!” I huffed, trying to keep up with the two Lycans.
From up here, one could see the whole manor grounds. The rose garden was Vera’s favorite place to hang out. The twins and I loved anywhere we could get our robust energy out. Part of me felt bad for leaving Vera behind, but she never wanted to come with us up here. Instead, she would rather read a stupid book.
A book! Who would like that? For me, the adventure was better than anything else! Anywhere I could get down and dirty would be perfect for me. Whenever Aunty Amelia attempted to dress me in dresses, I felt like I was out of my place.
Although Vera loved them. For being born as quadruplets, we surely were all different. We composed our quad of two identical and two fraternal, but we were all the same age. Though... I was the youngest of the bunch, by a couple of minutes only! Aiden and Caden, even though they loved to adventure like me, were not keen on getting dirty like I was.
Although Aiden was much of a daredevil with things, while Caden was more relaxed than our brother and me. We could hear the maid call for us. It caused us to snicker while on top of the roof. She would never think of finding us here. Caden relaxed for a bit by laying down on the tiles. Aiden stood near the edge to watch for the unsuspecting maid.
Slowly, I made my way to Aiden, wanting to see what he was gazing at.
“Rem... you should not be here.” Aiden scowled at me, worried about being scolded later by our parents.
Mostly, though, it was because he cared about me. I took it as him being annoying and mean.
“I will be fine!” I assured him again by puffing myself up, placing my hands on my hips.
‘Just how many times will it take for him to believe me? Bah. Annoying!’
“Right...” Aiden trailed off, not quite believing me.
He stared at me with those crimson orbs of his.
“Ah, let her be.” Caden tried to downplay the fact I was here, wanting to sunbathe.
Aiden grumbled before going towards him to scowl. The moment he left; I noticed an orb next to me. It was the first time I had ever seen anything like it. It radiated a weird color and was so pretty.
‘A fairy, maybe? But don’t those live in the elf lands? Ah... I must be lucky.’
A hum left my lips as I enjoyed the orb.
“Yeah, yeah, I get it, but if dad comes later to yell at me. I am going to rat you out as the source who let her stay here.” Aiden pouted somewhat.
I found myself enchanted by this blue orb floating around me. Maybe the reason he was so bossy was that he was the eldest. Caden came after him while Vera was next, and I was last.
“Whatever.” Caden shrugged, enjoying the sunlight on his skin.
Aiden took another step towards the lazy brother.
“Do you see this?” I finally broke through my awe to speak.
Aiden and Caden both ignored what had come from my mouth. They continued to bicker behind me. Unsuspecting anything, I went to reach for the orb, only for another to appear next to it. Then another, and another. Before I knew it, they surrounded me. By the time my brothers noticed what was happening, it was too late.
“Rem!” Caden, who had sat up because of Aiden’s bickering, shouted at me.
He had noticed me dangerously close to the edge. But it was too late. The moment my brother called out to me, I spun to face him, only to lose my footing. Both my brothers ran to me to reach me, but I fell out of their grasp. The moment I hit the floor below, I jolted awake, gasping for air.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
My body felt like something wanted to take over it. I quickly covered my mouth, remembering where I was. It had been a while since I had that dream. Worried that someone might have heard me yet again, I glanced around through the little peephole to see no one was around.
Taking my chance to escape, I hopped out of the barrel, tumbling onto the floor. My legs were killing me after being cooped up there for hours. Struggling to get off the ground, the surrounding ghosts laughed at the fact I could barely walk.
Pushing the urge to grumble at them, I crawled my way towards the opening of the tent. There I saw everyone was by a campfire in the far distance. Vera, Caden, and Aiden all sat there. Yet Mom and Dad seemed missing from the huddle they were having.
With brief hesitation, I sneaked my way around the camp to get into the howling forest. However, it would not take long before I ran into a complication. After all, there is no such thing as smooth sailing for someone like me.
The moment a black cat, Shade, my mom’s familiar, crossed my path. My heart dropped. For a moment, her little blue orbs stared at me. I froze in place as she tilted her head, wondering what the heck I was doing here. After all, I was supposed to be back home. Though... if Shade was here, then...
Before I knew what I was doing, without hesitation, I picked her up and ran with her into a hiding spot near some crates. Covering her mouth, I hoped she would not give me away. My parents came out of the tent nearby.
‘Shit!’
I broke into a cold sweat.
“Lily... Don’t worry, I am sure we will be fine.” Dad, a silver-haired Lycan, said to mom, a powerful human witch.
The moment I heard his voice, my poor heart stopped. I was doomed. Game over!
“I can’t be as optimistic as you, Fenris.” Mom sighed, not sure of what was to come.
Her beautiful blue orbs gazed down at the floor. Dad quickly picked them up back to meet with his crimson gaze.
“Look, with Vera’s spell, we should be able to put Alijah away once and for all. Then we will go back home together. Rem is waiting for us back at home to be victorious too.” Dad nuzzled his face into mom’s neck.
She sighed yet again. If only they knew I was right here listening to them. Shade could have given me up any minute, too.
'Please... Don’t do that, Shade!!!'
“I know it is, but I don’t know something feels weird. Maybe we should not have left Rem back home. Maybe that is what’s wrong with me. It is her birthday today too. And here we are with the others and her missing.” Mom regretted leaving me behind.
Dad was certain that was the right decision.
“There is no way I am bringing her near that psycho. We don’t need two complications.” Dad noted.
Mom slightly agreed with him.
‘Ouch, Dad... I am not a complication... but the solution. Get that right, at least Dad!’
“I know. I don’t want her anywhere here either, but still.” Mom seemed unhappy about being away from me for my birthday.
In response, Dad hugged her tightly.
“I miss her too. Caden and Aiden do too. They say it is a little too quiet without her around. Vera, though...” Dad chuckled, making Mom smile in response.
“She says is the perfect gift for her birthday. The getaway she needed from her sister.” Mom giggled.
Dad seemed pleased to have successfully cheered her up. I swear... I was not that bad.
“We will get her a little something when we get back. I hope Amelia isn’t having a hard time with Rem, though. I know she was dead set on coming here with us. Maybe we should call them.” Dad suggested, pulling away from Mom’s brown locks to look at his phone.
Mom glanced around, noticing her familiar was missing.
“Perhaps tomorrow. Wait, where did Shade go?” Mom asked, calling for her.
She received no response. Somehow Shade was not giving me out. Although she could have if she wanted to. They shared a telepathic connection.
“Uh, well, maybe she is out for a stroll. I think she wanted to avoid Ruzgard.” Dad pointed out.
Mom called again for her, turning back to him, worried about her lifelong companion. Little did she know I had kidnapped the cat.
“She rarely leaves me alone like this.” Mom worried about Shade, grabbing onto her arms, unaware her familiar was in her youngest daughter’s hands.
The way I was holding Shade somewhat annoyed her, though. It was like holding a plushy while hovering my hand over her mouth. Like that would stop the telepathic connection between Mom and her.
“I am sure she will find you soon,” Dad reassured Mom.
She could never resist him for long before she gave in to him. Shade was indestructible while in this mortal realm. So, there was nothing to worry about.
“If you say so.” Mom smiled.
Dad began to be romantic with her. Now... one would think this was adorable. They had been together for thirty-four years. Wow, that sounds like a lot, but for me, it was nothing but annoying to see. I had no one like that. Well... being a luma made it so people would not want to courtship me.
No, they preferred my sister over me, but that did not mean I had no suitors. Being a child of the most powerful witch and Lycan made me somewhat desirable for some, but I was not interested in them. Nope... my heart was taken from the moment I... Wait, that does not matter. It was all one-sided, anyway!
What did matter was that Vera had more boys after her from every race that I could count. But only one ever got close to winning that icy heart of hers. A sun elf named Felix, who was Amara’s brother. Amara was the sun elf that helped me come into this world. Well, back when I almost killed my mom. Felix was also here, from what I heard.
My brother Aiden had a crush on Sophie, who was Liam’s, and Melody’s daughter. The close relation made that pairing sought after by the elders. After all, Melody was my Dad’s step-sister. And all they ever talked about was about purifying the line.
Caden, though, seemed to be a free soul, much like me. Or at least I sought myself to be since my love was a lost cause. Sophie was also here with Aunty Melody and Uncle Liam.
“In the meantime, how about you and me...” Dad began.
I could not hold it in any longer. It was so nasty. Not like a bad gross, but your kid was nearby and hearing everything. I did not need to hear or witness that in my entire lifetime. Luckily, they retreated again into their tent. This allowed me to sneak by with Shade in my arms. I could not let her go to betray me.
However, once I was far enough from everyone. Shade sunk her teeth into my hand in one big chomp, triggering me to yelp in pain before letting her go free. Grabbing into my bleeding hand, I got teary eyes, slowly glancing at the cat who had enough of me.
“Why bite me?!?” I cried, holding onto my injured hand.
There was no need for her to hurt me. She went deep too. It stung.
‘Ouch...’
“Hmph... Brats like you heal fast.” Shade huffed, not happy to find me here.
She was right about my healing ability, though. It was faster than a normal human but slower than a purebred Lycan. Before I let out another complaint, she got straight to the point.
“Why are you here, Rem? You are not supposed to be here.” She glared at me.
I broke into a cold sweat. At any minute, she could let Mom know I was here if she desired it so.
‘How can I prevent that? Ah... There is no way!’
Panic was rushing through me.
“W-why n-not g-give m-me up i-if y-you k-knew t-that a-already?!?” I questioned, stuttering at every word.
Shade was always pure evil when she wanted to be. But she was also cuddly, even in her scary form to me. She was presumed to be a goddess from a realm known as the soul cairn. It was where my mother’s powers originated. Where my sister’s and I also got ours from. Although mine was...
“Because I found it interesting that you, of all people, sneaked around uncaught. Well, mostly. Though I would have thought Caden and Aiden would have sniffed you out.” Shade smirked, having declared victory for spotting me.
I growled in response. She always enjoyed the chaos that I provoked in our family. Probably the only reason she was not letting Mom know I was here. And that was she wanted to see what trouble I could get myself into. If she were a goddess, I would not put her past one of mischievous deeds.
“Don’t give me in,” I mumbled, still holding onto my hand.
Shade licked her lips and circled me. It was almost as if she were inspecting me. I was wearing a wig, and fake eyes to keep myself unrecognizable, but I could not hide from my family.
“Why shouldn’t I?” Shade questioned, testing my will.
I stood my ground against her.
“Because this is my only chance at freedom! I want it! And I need it!” I declared.
She broke out laughing in response. It almost made me tear up even more. She did not have to be so mean!
“You think Alijah will give you freedom? Is this that stupid little plan you told Lily about, but she refused to do it?” Shade jabbed me in the heart.
She ripped it up, enjoying my predicament while I crumbled in defeat. It was not stupid. It really was not. If anything, it was brilliant. We would not have to kill or send him away if it worked. Not that I... never wanted him dead. No, I...
“Yes... Vera helped me perfect it!” I tried to plead my case.
After Mom told us about Alijah, the boys or Vera did not care enough to save him. But something resonated with me. I knew it meant me to help heal his tormented heart. I had to be. It just had to be. After all, I… always...
“And you think your delusions will work?” Shade continued, shooting knives into my heart.
'Delusions? Is that what everyone thought of what I wanted to do? Fuck that, I will make them see my illusions will save everyone! Including the man who has suffered so much already.'
For thousands of years, he had only known pain. It must have been excruciating for him.
“It will work,” I assured her.
She did not seem impressed by my determination. Yet again, nothing ever made an impression on her.
“What if it fails?” Shade would not stop relentlessly attacking my resolve.
She was probably hoping I would see the errors of my ways, but I... would never back down from doing what I thought was right. After all, I was his only hope. I was the only one who did not want him to die.
“If it fails, then I die and end up getting possessed. Then I will kill Alijah. It is a winning situation for everyone.” I grumbled.
Shade snickered before climbing onto my shoulder. The worst-case scenario was that one.
“You are missing the fact that you will not just kill him.” Shade purred into my ear.
I pushed her off me and stomped a few steps away from her.
“That is just a minor detail,” I assured her, not wanting to back down from my current course.
“Child, you are not very smart. Are you?” Shade pointed out like another knife to my heart.
By this time, my hand had already stopped bleeding, even though my heart surely would not stop soon. She was right. This could all go chaotic in the blink of an eye. Alijah could kill me. Then I would get possessed by a fucking random god. One who may or may not be hell-bent on destroying this world. Then it would be a good game world! I already knew that. Even so, I had to try.
Something pulled me towards him, and I needed to be there. Hopefully, before everyone else found him.
“I may not be the smartest, but I have a chance and I need to take it. Please Shade... I am begging you. Let me go.” I pleaded, dropping onto my knees and hands, begging her to tell no one about my presence here.
“Hm... your mom will hang me if she finds out I saw you,” Shade mumbled.
I could not let her backtrack.
“Then don’t tell her! She has a soft spot for you!” I tried to convince her.
I did not know if it was the desperation in my eyes, but instead of continuing to delay me. She shook her head before slowly gazing towards the side.
“Are you certain this is what you want?” Shade asked in one last attempt to sway me from my current course.
Unable to stop, my tail wagged under my clothes. I gazed at her with hopeful eyes.
“Yes!” I blurted happily, knowing she had caved into me.
“Fine... I will let you go this once, but if I catch you again, or if you try to kill me while possessed. I will not go easy on you.” Shade huffed.
I picked her up in my arms before snuggling her, much to her displeasure.
“Yes! I love you, Shady!” I professed my love for her.
She pushed my face away from her with her little paws while I tried to kiss her. After many failed attempts to do so successfully, I felt something tug my heart deeper into the forest. Something I wanted was clearly waiting for me there. Noticing her chance to escape my grip, she pulled herself out of my hands, running a couple of steps away from me.
“May the strings of fate guide you, little wolf.” Shade bowed, watching me stare at the forest entrance.
My heart raced, taking a simple step towards my destiny. Though the ghost that had been following me all along ruined it.
‘Ah... that was touching...’ One commented, breaking me right there.
The entire time, they had been making snarky comments, and that was the last straw. I hated witch ghosts the most. The sass would not end.
“Fuck! Would you all shut up already!” I cursed loudly.
Shade glanced back at me, shaking her head, wondering how no one had found me. Again, in front of her, I appeared like an idiot, like always. Wasting no more time, I closed my eyes for a moment to catch my nerves. Then I took my chance to bolt out of there. The deeper I went into the forest, more ghosts seem to pop up. The howling winds became stronger, too.
There was a reason this forest was called the howling forest. It was because of the winds that brushed the trees, which caused the same noise as wolves. To ignore the plague of spirits, I placed my headphones on, blasting music to drown out their commentary. I was faster and stronger than a human, but significantly weaker than a Lycan.
Dad had trained me all my life to control my strength. He himself was a full-fledged wolf and the first red-eye one in our era. Although the title of being the first belonged to someone else. Blood moons caused this phenomenon, but Dad was not the true first of his kind. No, that belonged to the mad Lycan everyone was trying to stop. The one I had a destined meeting with.
Thanks to my training, I could handle myself somewhat. My brothers, who were just like Dad, beat me terribly in combat. Although after the accident, they all seemed to go softer on me. Aiden was even more overbearing. Caden, who usually was the one who pushed me forward, also became overprotective of me.
After running for a while, I found myself in a clearing near a lake. Even though the moon shined over the scenery that faced me, it was eerie to gaze at. Kneeling by the lake, I washed my hands in its water, revealing the wound that Shade had inflicted was gone. Like it never happened.
However, I was out of breath. My stamina was not the same as a Lycan. I could not shift to my beast form at will. In fact, I could not shift at all while conscious. Needing a quick rest, I laid against an old tree after reliving myself. There I blasted my music to drown the stupid ghosts that threatened my sanity.
That accident happened because I was awakening to my magic, which was why it was the first time I started seeing them. After the fall, though, I heard them speak, much to my annoyance. Mom tried to find a way for me not to hear them, but it was Dad who gave me the devices that saved me. I usually passed most of the day with them on. Usually only took them off when someone wanted to speak with me.
Uncle Ben, another silver Lycan like Dad, possessed the normal wolf trait of amber eyes. With his girlfriend, Tania a vampire beauty with black hair and red eyes. They would take me to get different music to listen to when they were available. This was rare though, Tania traveled constantly.
Last year, for my birthday, Dad gifted me a solar-powered headset and mp3 made by sun elves. This was so I could always have them, even if the power went out. That usually happened whenever shadow beasts attacked. Yes... shadow demons, also known as shadow beasts, were creatures from the soul cairn. Much like Shade, but lower ranking.
Yes, they came from the same source as our magical power. After the events that led to my birth, it merged the realm of the dead gods into our world. This allowed them to spawn out at random times.
Each time they did, their energy would cause a power outage while carnage ensued. Those beasts were ruthless on whoever they found in their path. The only saving grace was that these encounters were timed battles of endurance.
A beast could not be in our world for long without a summoner. Shade and Ruzgard were the only two familiars known to exist in our realm without fading. They used to be residents of the soul cairn themselves before being bound to their summoners.
After a brief rest, the music consumed me. Anything with jazz usually made me break out dancing. With the crescent moon out and shining up above, I could not help but bust out some moves. I was alone out here, so why not? Dancing used to be a hobby for me. And a way to work out my energy.
After all, I was always stuck at home because of my certain condition. I closed my eyes before dancing the night away, forgetting why I was there. Whenever I did this, it was freeing. This was one thing I could do that would not be taken away from me. It was just me doing my thing.
My peaceful place, even though I was in a crazy forest. While I danced the night away, someone grabbed my headsets from my head, suddenly interrupting me from my grove. For a moment, I thought it was Dad, or maybe one of my brothers who had caught on to me.
There was no way anyone else would have gotten here so fast.
‘Shade, you betrayer!’
I almost pouted for a moment before I... was proven to be wrong. And fucked...
“What the fuck is this?” A stranger’s voice said from behind.
My heart stopped upon hearing it. It was not Dad or my brothers. So; it was a random stranger or...
‘Girl, you are so fucked.’ One ghost sassed at me.
I was frozen in place.
‘We even tried to warn you.’ Another one followed.
I could picture their expressions of amusement. I slowly turned around to face the stranger. One that I had only seen in a picture in my mom’s workshop. She had drawn it once, long ago. The resemblance was uncanny, though. Only that his beauty was incomparable to the picture.
The Lycan that stood in front of me had not aged a day. His crimson orbs scrunched, inspecting the weird device that created music. He seemed mystified by it. Probably had never seen one like it before.
His black hair seemed silky smooth under the moonlight, along with his sole braid that reached his waist. The way the moon shined off his fair skin left me in awe. A wolf I had only seen in my dreams before now stood in front of me.
Dropping the headset on the ground, Alijah glanced back at me, unimpressed. However, I felt like lightning had just struck me right where I stood the moment his eyes met with mine. My heart raced. Not of fear, but of something else. It left me in utter awe of the majestic wolf I had dreamt of before.
The one that plagued my fantasies almost every night. Yet he was so much more in person than I could have imagined. Before I could say a thing, Alijah’s expression changed to hostile. By the time I realized it, he pinned me against a tree behind us. He held me up from my throat.
“Girl... where... when... am I?” Alijah started, tightening his grip on my neck.
I struggled to grab onto his hands. He was too strong, way too rough too. Everything was already going sideways.
‘Why was I not paying attention? I had only one shot. And I lost it! Good job Rem!’
Although, I was randomly looking before. There was no way for me to know I would find him here, but something told me to be here. I should have been paying attention instead of dancing!
“I... can’t... speak... like this!” I tried to sway the angered Lycan to let me go.
He growled in response to my answer, but I was right. For a moment, he thought of ripping my head off, but he needed the potential information I offered.
“Fine. Speak luma.” Alijah let me go.
I gasped for air before coughing loudly. I would have a bruise for a week from the strength he used if I were a normal human. He was not a gentle soul. Nothing like he behaved in my dreams. Although it did not start like that either, then...
“It has been twenty years since you were last seen,” I informed, grabbing onto my secret weapon from my pouch, pretending to catch my breath.
He kept his crimson orbs on my face. My weapon was a shadowy necklace that I had made especially for him.
“Has it?” Alijah growled, not happy about what he was being told.
“I am going to kill him. I am sure he made her do this.” The black-haired Lycan grumbled, angered by something that had happened before he got here.
I did not know what he was going off about, but I was set to do what I needed to be victorious.
“Hah... that sounds like an excellent plan.” I tried to butter him up a bit.
He gazed at me, somewhat confused about what I was saying. At least he did not recognize me as the silver blood he hated so much. Otherwise, I would be splattered on the floor. My disguise worked. For now, at least.
“Yes... it is. Who are you? And why are you here?” Alijah questioned.
I grinned in response to his question. For a moment, he seemed in awe of me. I showed no fear towards him.
“Well... I am here because the fates wanted me here. And I am also your worst nightmare, I guess.” I mumbled rapidly.
He brought his face closer to mine with his ears somewhat perked up, unable to follow me. Mom was right. He was always full of himself. He thought he was invincible. What could a little luma like me do to a big bad wolf-like him?
“What?” Alijah muttered to himself.
I took the opportunity he was so close to jab my hand up to his neck. The necklace snapped automatically upon contact with his skin. In an instant, it sunk into his body, leaving behind a black mark on his neck where it once was. Instinctively, he grabbed onto it as pulses rushed through him.
My neck also had the same marking. I had already been wearing mine before this moment.
“Sorry.” I apologized, feeling all the adrenaline rush that came from pissing off the most dangerous man alive.
“What the fuck did you do, wench?” Alijah snapped at me for good reason.
He gripped his neck, trying to get rid of what I had done. But it was irreversible unless I wanted with... Vera’s help. My magic could even affect a red-eye Lycan since I was half one. Wolves were usually magic-proof unless they overwhelmed their resistances with an immense amount of magical energy. Mine worked differently, though.
Since I had the red moon’s essence within me. My magic would even affect the strongest of Lycans, even if mine was unstable compared to my mom’s or sister’s power. I guess we can call it a symbiotic relationship.
“Just a little thing to bound you to me.” I tried to play it off as a no big deal.
Alijah was not having any of it. He radiated a crimson aura brighter than I had ever seen. Even in all these years, his power exceeded Dad’s. Mom was right to worry. Their plan would have certainly failed. They all would have died if I had not done this.
“I am going to kill you!” Alijah snarled, coming at me.
This was the moment of truth. The moment I would see if it worked or die by his hands.
“Sit down, Alijah,” I ordered, causing the bond to resonate within us.
In an instant, he was on the ground, sitting down, shocked at what had just happened. My first soul-binding spell ever worked. The joy that gushed out of me was hard to hold on to. Though I tried to keep myself composed, it would not last for long. Surely I could celebrate capturing the mad Lycan.
“What the fuck?” Alijah muttered, finding himself on the floor, sitting down like the good boy I wanted him to be.
‘Good... this is amazing!!!’
Everything was much better than I thought it would be!
“It actually works. Woot! It works!” I celebrated by jumping around happily, unable to help myself.
This came much to Alijah’s horror. He was nowhere near as happy as I was about the current events.
“Crazy fucking luma, what the fuck did you do to me?!?!” Alijah cursed at me.
I gazed around, remembering where we were. They must have already known he was back. My family probably searched the forest already. Or maybe they were waiting for him to come to them. Either way... we had to move.
“Shit! We should really get out of here!” I announced, picking up my headset from the floor and stuffing it in my bag.
The surrounding ghosts warned me about who was coming our way. Alijah seemed distressed about something else entirely. His life was twisted upside down in a second. He could not keep up with me at the moment, but he would have to.
“What?!?” Alijah spluttered, trying to get me to explain myself to him.
But this was not the place or time to do so. No, for now, we had to move before they caught us.
“Alijah, come with me if you want to live!” I declared, reaching my hand to him.
He, for a moment, seemed completely flabbergasted by me. His expression made me wonder what was going in that chaotic little mind of his. But... this was the only choice. I could only hope he would grab onto my hand. Our freedom and our future depended on his action.
But would he trust me?