The Beast

Chapter 2 - The Beast

I walked out of my grandfather's house, deciding to head to the forest instead of the palace. I needed some time for myself; maybe I would even let my wolf run for a bit. Something about having the air blowing through our fur was so freeing. I had extra time with my wolf than most, but what I gained in perfecting my shifting, I lost in bonding emotionally. When most werewolves shifted at eighteen, I shifted at sixteen. Something not completely unheard of, it mostly happened in Alpha families. We figured that it was because of the Fae side of me. It had sped up the wolf bond and allowed us to shift early.

Damon got his wolf at eighteen, and so did Nesrin. Balor was early too, getting his wolf this year, on his seventeenth birthday. All of our wolves were unique in personality and looks. My siblings' wolves matched them perfectly, and they worked so well together. Where my wolf was difficult, she was wild and very dominant. She enjoyed being able to run free. Sometimes I had to keep her in because of her attitude and unpredictable nature. She chose to ignore me sometimes, always wanting to do something crazy that would get us both in trouble.

My father is certain she is only this difficult because she has the attitude of an Alpha. She reminds him of his wolf, Creed, hungry for adventure and only taking orders from herself. My father and Creed only battled for dominance in stressful situations. He still could control when they shifted, unlike me. He said it wasn’t always like that, though, and that she and I would work out our differences with time. I loved my father. He was always level-headed and understanding, always making me feel like I’m not alone in this battle of wits with my wolf.

As I walked to the forest line, I could feel her stirring. I began taking off my clothes, placing them neatly behind a tree trunk. I re-strapped my knives onto my thighs. You never knew when you might need them. Especially if my wolf decided to leave me in human form, again, for her own twisted sense of humour. My body tingled as I began to shift, the fur making my skin itch as it sprouted. My bones breaking and resetting, in the beginning, shifting hurt now; it was a relief. When I shift the weight of the world is lighter, nonexistent even. When we were out here, I wasn’t a princess. I wasn’t destined for a life of ruling. I was just simply Imelda and nothing else. The damp earth was soft under our paws as my wolf shook out and stretched.

“Finally, it’s been too long; we were supposed to go running yesterday. What happened to that, Mel.” My wolf was annoyed, her voice sharp.

“If you were paying attention, you would know why.” I scolded her. She let out a growl of annoyance. The sounds of birds singing in the tree and our paws hitting the dirt-filled the forest.

“Maybe if the lessons weren’t so boring I would pay better attention. But, like today, I was definitely paying attention today while you kicked Cedric’s ass.” She laughed. I rolled my eyes at her; it is always the same thing with her. She is all for the embarrassment and humiliation of others.

“Oren, there is more to life than fighting and breaking rules. The lessons I take are to help us both connect and be powerful. Not only as one but also individually, every time you check out, it makes it that much harder.” I scolded. Oren let out a huff of annoyance before stopping in the middle of the forest.

“How about this, you find your way home without me. And I’ll participate in our boring lessons.” Oren suggested, pulling back and forcing me to shift. I fell to the ground, only saving my face from smashing the forest floor with a roll.

“What the hell, Oren, this is not funny,” I shouted at her. Instead of arguings, she let out a low laugh. She enjoyed tormenting me as much as she did any other person who challenged her.  The only difference was I was the one who was supposed to be able to control her.

“Never said it was, but I think this will be a fun game. It’s simple you find your way home without me. I will listen to some of your boring rules. If you can’t, then you have to skip lessons tomorrow and actually socialize.” Oren explained. I wanted to scream in frustration. Why was I given such a challenging wolf?

“I’m not challenging Mel. I just want you to live a little.” She sighed.

“How is leaving me naked in a forest, living. This is why I never leave for our runs without my knives. Not after the first time, you left me out here stranded, and Uncle Drake and Dad found me in a tree hiding from a Yeth hound.” I argued. Yeth hounds were dog-like creatures. Nasty bastards, their faces holding almost human-like features, only flattened, ears the pointed, holding a resemblance to horns. Their eyes were as red as blood, and their teeth as sharp as razors. Their fur stunk of smoke and was a dull as ash.

“You survived and learned a valuable lesson. Always travel prepared, plus I wouldn’t have let you get hurt. If you couldn’t climb the tree, I would have shifted back.” She laughed.

“You’re unbelievable. When we get home, I am not going to shift for two weeks.” I snapped.

“Do that, and I’ll continue to make you miserable. Now focus, somethings coming, and I don’t want to have to show you up.” Oren said before fading to the back of my mind.

I focused on my surroundings, crouching low. A branch snapped behind me; I spun around, coming face to face with a displaced beast. The beast looked like an overgrown cat, with onyx fur and glowing green eyes. Its three tails flicked with excitement. I cursed under my breath as I slowly stepped back. It crouched as it watched me, its eyes narrowing. Two of its tails were flat-ended, each covered in quills. Each quill was tipped with a toxic poison. It would stop your blood from clotting, and if you got away after getting hit by one, you would slowly bleed out. If you somehow survived the bleeding, the hallucinations and fever would claim you. The Displacer beasts are nearly extinct creatures, but the few that still roamed the forest were deadly and the strongest of the species. Trained long ago by elves, who use to use them as guard animals.  It let out a low growl, sending shivers down my spine.

“Oren, you better get your ass back here,” I shouted at her. But, of course, I got nothing in return.

“Stubborn ass wolf is going to get us killed,” I muttered to myself. I took another step back, my gaze never leaving the beast's position.

They were sneaky, played tricks with light. They could be farther or closer than they appeared. I slowly reached for my knife, unclamping it and holding it tight against my palm. I stood up slowly and focused on my breathing. I raised my arm and aimed for the face as I threw my knife. It roared in pain as it made contact. I spun around, running as fast as I could. I could hear its paws thudding on the forest floor, chasing after me.

My mind was racing as I thought of all the spells and magic I had been taught. It was a creature of light, any kind of magic I used involving light would be absorbed. Without any Water around and my skills of Air not being the greatest, Earth was the last element I could manipulate. I focused on the ground and pictured the tree's roots expanding and coming up from the dirt. I let the magic pulse through me, the ground beginning to shake under my feet. I tripped over a root in front of me, smacking into the forest floor. I gasped as I rolled forward, my skin scrape across the rough earth, scratching me.

The displacer beast jumped over me, skidding to a stop. It swung around as a root shot out of the ground, smacking it in the face. It flung the beast backwards; a groan and loud roar filled the air as it fell.

“Oren, where the fuck are you,” I screamed at her. I felt my skin tingle as she stepped forward.

“Holy shit did not see that coming.” Ignoring how angry I was at her, she crept forward. Her excitement, for the kill, is taking over all our emotions. She stepped in front of the beast, letting out a loud howl. The beast stepped back, its back arched and lips pulled up, showing its teeth. It let out a loud growl, stepping backwards. Like any other cat, the presence of a canine, wolf or dog, made it rethink its attack. They were dangerous creatures, and if we didn’t kill them, they would try to kill us. If it made it close enough to the capital before getting captured and killed, it could attack a child and kill them. We focused on the beast in front of us, watching its tail flick through the air. Its face bleeding, my blade sticking out from where its left eye should be.

“Avoid those tails at all costs. Strike for the throat. Be faster than it. It’s blind on the left side, so that gives us an advantage.” Oren nodded her head. She didn’t say another word as she charged forward. Running behind a tree and circling back. Within a matter of seconds, we smashed into the side of the displacer. A muffled yelp escaping its mouth as we flipped it onto its back. Its crawls digging into Oren’s chest, the smell of blood flooded our nose. A mixed taste of metal and sugar covered our tastebuds. Then, with a hard jerk, we heard the neck snap, the Displacer's body becoming limp beneath us. We needed to drag the beast back to the palace grounds to be disposed of properly. The poison from their tails could be used as weapons. The royal guards would strip them and extract the poison before burning the body, releasing its spirit back to the mother.

“See, if I didn’t leave you all alone, we wouldn’t have caught this beast before it wreaked havoc across the capital,” Oren said proudly. The worst part is she believed herself, believed that her abandoning me had helped protect everyone.

“I can’t even believe you right now. This isn’t some game Oren. We could have died.” I snapped. This wolf was going to be the end of me.

“Well, we didn’t. Nothing wrong with a little brush with death to really add some excitement to our lives.” She said proudly, stepping back and letting me shift.

“Now, if you’re done whining, we have to drag this disgusting beast back to the guards.” I was too irritated with her to respond. When we arrived at the forest line, Oren stepped back, allowing me to shift. My muscles burned from not only being thrown around but also dragging this heavy thing through the forest. My chest, thighs and face throbbed. I pushed through it all, pulling on the clothes I left behind. The leather clung to me, feeling like a second layer of skin. I grabbed the beast by its hind legs and dragged it out into the fighting field. Guards were busy training and talking, to really notice me at first. I pulled the beast to the opening of the fighting rings. The guards froze, looking at me, and then the beast, in shock. It wasn’t until a familiar voice shouted an order that they sprung into action.

“Imelda, what the hell happened. Did it get you? Did it hit you with one of its tails?” My father asked, pushing my hair from my face. He pulled my chin up, so I was looking at him. I winced at the contact of his finger against my jaw; there was most likely a bruise already forming. As I stared at my father, I couldn’t help but feel ashamed. If you didn’t know any better, you would think my father was the brother, him only looking a few years older than myself. His eyes filled with concern as he looked me over. Then, he cursed as he noticed the cut the started from my throat, heading down towards my chest.

“No, just a few scratches and bruises. I’m fine. Nothing that won’t heal by tomorrow.” I let out a weary laugh. The adrenaline was now fading, and the throbbing of my body grew stronger. My father shook his head. He closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh. Something he did when Creed was trying to come forth. He fixed his gaze on the beast before turning around. My brother stopped in his tracks, his green eyes, matching mine and my father's, wide as he looked at the beast. His scarlet hair was pulled back into a messy bun.

“Goddess, what the hell happened. Why didn’t you link us, Mel.” My father gave him a sharp look. But Damon walked forward anyway, looking me over. I swatted away his hand, stepping back from his reach.

“I didn’t really have time to think about that. It was kind of a fight or be killed situation.” I looked over at the displacer laying on the ground. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, its size was enough to cause someone to cower in fear. The fact that I killed it by myself was a sign of how well I had been trained. But in reality, if I hadn’t been fighting with Oren, I would have had the proper amount of focus to come out unscathed. Instead, I was sloppy and not fully aware of my surroundings, a stupid mistake That could have cost us our life.

“What have you been told about going out into the forest this late. Especially without telling anyone. What if you didn’t get the upper hand? What would you have done then.” My father asked. He was pissed. He had every right to be; I could have died. I cursed at Oren for making our run into a game of wits and survival.

“But I did have the upper hand.” I lied.

“I didn’t realize the time. I just needed to run, to clear my head. So I came right here after I killed it. So your men can clean it up and get the poison for your weapons.” I looked back at my father. His eyes were filled with so many emotions, I could read them. He turned away from me and ordered some of the men to move the body, then turned back to me. He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out another sigh.

“This conversation isn’t over, Imelda, and your mother is going to hear of this. I can only buy you so much time. Go into your room, and I will have Willow come to check on your injuries.” Instead of arguing, I nodded and began to walk away. My father's hand gripped my shoulder.

“It would have taken three of my men to take this beast down. Don’t ever think I’m not proud of you, but as your father, I will always care for you, worry about you, and love you.” He said, leaning down and kissing the top of my head.

“I know, thank you, Father.” I looked up at him and gave him a weak smile.

“Damon, please make sure she makes it to her room.” He ordered my brother.

“It would be my pleasure.” He muttered, giving me a side glare. He was clearly as annoyed with me as I was with Oren. We walked out towards the palace. The moons began to rise into the sky, shining bright shades of pink and purple. I heard in other realms their moons were different. In the Giant's realm, they had two suns, and only stars lit up their sky. In the human realm, they had a single moon that shined in the night, and their sun looked as if it was made of gold. I had seen drawings of it, but I wished to see all the different realms one day. I wished to experience all the things they had to offer. Enjoy the different smells and feel how different the sun felt on my skin.

“For someone so focused on training, you lack the ability to use that training under pressure.” Damon let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.

“I do fine under pressure. I was just in the middle of a discussion with Oren when it approached.” I defended.

“Why isn’t that surprising. That wolf of yours is definitely a handful. Did she refuse to shift again?” He asked, giving me a knowing smirk. I rolled my eyes at him. Even though Damon was younger than me, he was better at controlling his wolf, and he was even better than me in fighting. There was really no guessing when it came to who would be the next leader of the Royal Guards. But sometimes, my father and grandfather were unpredictable. They could refuse to hand down the role for another year or even wait a few more years, but I had a feeling this year would be the year. He was level-headed and was a fresh set of eyes when it came to training and planning patrols. It also required a lot more travelling, something both my father and grandfather didn’t have time for anymore.

“Of course she did. I don’t get it you, Nesrin, and even Balor got wolves with calm souls. I got Oren, the wolf who craves adventure and demands respect. I feel bad for her sometimes; she got paired with the worst possible choice. I am stuck inside, unless training, and soon I will be married off to be a trophy to some snobby king.” I looked down at my hands as I walked. We stopped outside of my bedroom door. Damon reached forward and tipped up my chin, forcing me to look at him. His eyes, the brightest shade of emerald, were soft and filled with understanding.

“Mel, we are given wolves who show our strengths. She isn’t this way to punish you; she is this way to push you further. She’s here to encourage you to live a little. When she is stubborn and ignores you, it gives you the chance to strengthen yourself. Yes, she gave the killing blow tonight, but I’m sure it was you who delivered the first strike, and you guided her to make the right moves for the perfect kill. For a stubborn wolf, you have to admit when you both work together; you two make a great team.” He explained, giving me a warm smile.

“Like, come on, how many people can say they took out a Displacer beast. How many people can say they did it alone and then dragged a three hundred pound beast back while injured. And if the guy you're destined to marry thinks he can push you around, he has another thing coming. Maybe you should listen to your wolf a bit more, stand up for yourself and experience life a little.” His smile turned into a smirk. He let out a laugh. When he smiled, he looked so much like our mother. She always smiled unless she was dealing with me. It always seemed like I was the one to cause her to frown or fill her face with confusion and disbelief.

“If only mom and dad could see it that way. Mom is going to ground me for the next decade when she hears about this.” I said, heaving a loud sigh.

“Ahh, don’t worry about mom. Dad and I will handle it, and if we can’t get through to her, I’ll send in grandfather. He always seems to have a way to reason with her when dad fails.” He laughed again.

“You have no idea how much work you’re about to endure trying to convince her not to be angry with me.” I laugh dryly. The movement caused me to wince as the cuts pulled with the movement of my chest.

“Feel better. I will have dinner sent to your room. Give you some extra time alone before mom finds you.” He gave my shoulder a tight squeeze.

“I appreciate it, and I’m sure by tomorrow, the only reminder of what happened will  be a few sore muscles.” He put his hands in his pockets, giving me a quick nod as he turned away and leaving me at my door. I walked into my room and headed to my bathroom. Orbs began to light up as I entered, making the ceiling as bright as the day sky. I began peeling off my clothes, throwing them on the floor. I placed my knives on the countertop and finally had a chance to look at my injuries. I winced as I ran my fingers along with the two gashes along my chest. They were no longer bleeding, but the skin was inflamed and angry-looking. My raven black hair was a disaster, a winded mess filled with leaves and twigs. My green eyes appeared to be too big for my face, wide from adrenaline and exhaustion. I turned my face slightly to see a big scratch down the side. Most of it was starting to heal, along with the other scratches covering my knees and elbows. However, bruises were beginning to form on my jaw and my thighs. Fighting without clothing was something I definitely didn’t want to encounter again. A quiet knock sounded from the door before I heard Willow stepped in.

“I hear you had quite the fight in the forest, my Lady.” Her voice was always so soft and calming. I walked out of the bathroom and headed towards my bed, only in my underwear. Nudity was something we dealt with often. Not only as shifters, but even Fae preferred to do ceremonies naked. It allowed them to connect better with the elements and with our mother.

“It caught me by surprise, but I  still managed to get the upper hand.” I sat on the bed, watching her as she walked forward. She gave me a soft smile before pulling out her herbs, balms, and books.

“This will sting, but it’ll numb the area. Then I can clean up the area and bandage it.” She warned as she opened up a small glass jar. It smelt like swamp water and looked like snot. I held back the urge to gag as she smeared it over my wounds. I winced at the sudden contact. It felt like I was having salt rubbed into the gashes. Slowly a cool feeling replaced the burning sensation.

“It’s been some time since we have had a displacer beast this close to the capital. I’m sure you have learned of them in your lessons, but they use to be trained to guard royalty in the elf kingdoms. It has been about three centuries since they have stopped using them. They had banned anyone from owning one and hunted them down. Some have managed to stay hidden, but they are almost an extinct species. It’s a good thing too, though we use their poison for our weapons, they are violent creatures. Even the Blink dogs have a hard time killing them, and they were bred and trained to hunt and kill them.” I let out a low hiss as she cleaned the cuts in my thighs. I focused on my breathing and tried to listen to what she was saying to distract myself.

“You are fortunate to be here and even luckier only to have a few minor injuries. I’m sure you will be the talk of the village.” She looked up and smiled at me.

“They truly are wretched creatures. Today was one of the days I’m thankful for all my training and boring lessons. If I didn’t study all the creatures of the forest, I probably would have had no idea how dangerous it really was. Everyone keeps saying how lucky I am, but anyone trained by my father and grandfather could have killed it.” I lifted my leg for her as she wrapped a bandage around my thigh. She stood up and began wrapping a bandage around my chest.

“As much as I would hope that to be true, I don’t think it is. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for, despite what others say. They are just jealous of how easily all this comes to you. Even with a difficult wolf, you are better than most.” She pulled on the bandage, tightening it. I winced again as the pressure pushed on my wounds.

“They should be healed by morning, but please take it easy tomorrow. I will tell Queen Athena and King Erik that you need the day to rest. Maybe even have a night to enjoy the solstice festivities.” Willow suggested.

“If they let me have the day off, I’ll definitely check out the festival. I haven’t been to it since I was a little girl. Have a goodnight, Willow. If I have any problems, I will contact you immediately.” She gave me a quick bow.

“Have a good night, my lady.” Willow pushed my door open and disappeared behind it. I got up slowly and walked to my wardrobe. I grabbed a light blue nightgown and slipped it on. It was made of spider silk. The silk felt so soft against my skin, almost as soft as a bunny's ears. I carefully tucked myself into bed, the exhaustion taking over. My eyelids felt like bags of sand weighed them down. I rolled on my side and let the exhaustion take over. Letting all the lights and sounds of the world disappear, being replaced with darkness and complete and utter silence.

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