Chapter 3: The book entitled "The First Born"

The sound of bumping spoon and fork, the different stories the people inside were talking, the chimes that ringing whenever someone would enter, it's like a well-balanced music ringing to my ear every night being in the counter of this cozy diners. Between the cafe and this place, I find the atmosphere in here more relax and calm. The wood design of Feel at Home makes it more welcoming and relaxing.

It feels like we are inside an old house made of nothing but woods. The freshly cooked foods that we are serving would surely salivate anyone's mouth and that alone adds flavor to the homely essence of the diners. The people were happily talking and sharing their experiences. An intimate moment, unlike in the cafe where the customers are usually always in a hurry.

The rush hour of dinner time just passed over an hour ago. The staffs were completely taking their break, while I am staring beyond the windowpane along the wooden door. Justin would usually come after 30 minutes of dinner rush, but she is sure late for tonight. Something that is out of her character. She's never late.

Guess, it's either she's mad or still in the process of making a decision; whether to come here like how she usually do everyday or to completely forget that despite what happened earlier, I would still be waiting for her. I doubt, she would choose the latter. She's not that petty to begin with. But she's scary when she's angry.  

"Austin! took over the table nine!" Sarah shouted from the kitchen, the manager and co-owner of this place.

"Oh okay. Where's the order?" I said exchanging the cap I'm wearing for the waiter's badge. Staffs in Feel at Home are distinguished by the cap, scarf and badge we are wearing.

"Coming!" I answered as I fix myself in front of the mirror near the counter. 

Sarah placed the yummy pesto in the counter with both spoon and fork. Then she placed a garlic bread beside the pasta and winked at me. I chuckled and shakes my head to Sarah. Now I know who this is for, and why would Sarah would let me serve it despite the fact that I am on counter-duty today. What a childish Sarah.

Justin and I have never gotten into a huge fight ever since we became friends. Just like normal kids and teenagers, we would occasionally get into petty and nonsense arguments, whether about education, different opinions on famous people or my obsession towards mythological beings but not even once to the point that we would ignore each other for one whole day. She would always the one to reach out first even when I'm the one in fault.

That's how giving she is to me.

But sometimes, I wish she would get mad. Or just shout at me. Or maybe just give me a punch or two, at least giving me something that I deserve for being a rude, asshole and selfish friend I could be. In that case, I would stop thinking that she's only doing this kind gestures out of pity for me.

We've been friends for years, but I would always think of reasons why she would settle for someone like me. I mean, she has thousands of people following and wanting to be her friend, why would she even pick an introverted with a problematic personality like me?  She could even pick someone with the same interest and hobby as her. So, in the end, I can't stop myself from thinking that maybe she just can't go and leave because she pity me. Something that I don't want her to feel.

But Justin is amazing. She would always remind me that despite my personality, she could never ask for another friend. "One chaos is enough Austin" she would always say to me.

"One pesto and garlic bread" I said and placed the plates to the table nine without landing my eyes to the customer, "Do you need anything?" I added while checking the notebook of orders I had in my pocket.

"Could you just please sit for a while?" She said in a quiet voice enough for me to hear her. She keeps on playing with her fingers. 

I took a deep breath and put the tray on the other side of the table and sit across her.

"What?" I said looking through the window on my left side.

She clears her throat and tap the table three times enough for her to get my attention. I turned to look at her direction, she placed a book on the table and intertwined her fingers on top of it.

"Okay. I'm sorry I shouted at you and talked about you to my professor" she said looking at me. She laid her back on the chair and cross her arms, "But you were kind of rude, you know" she said somehow angrily.

My mouth was left open. After a few seconds, I can no longer hold my laughter and burst out laughing at her. She raised her eyebrow at me and rolled her eyes.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry." I said in between of my laughs, "I was just annoyed with that man and got angry at you. I'm sorry I yelled at you too" I added.

She laughed. I laughed. We laughed for another minute until she pushes the book in front of me. The book has the same interface with the one I have and the one that I borrowed from the library. I run my fingers through the book. Same feeling, leather. It still has the same carvings and all. I looked at the spine of the book, Priam. Same author of the books that I have. A smile sneaked to my mouth but I brush it off hurriedly.

"What's this for?" I said trying to hide the smile that stubbornly wanted to show.

"Peace offering?" Justin said shrugging her shoulders 

"I thought you don't want me to be so engrossed with these kinds of things?" I said running my fingers through the books again 

"I'll let you pass this time, for the sake of our friendship" she said and rolled her eyes at me.

"Anyway, don't be so annoyed with Shaun, he's actually nice. And he said to say sorry to you" she said and stands up to sat beside me.

"Well, putting aside his child like personality, he can be nice. Can" I said putting the very emphasis to the last word that I said. Justin smiled at me and dig in to her pasta and garlic bread.

I open the book, The First Born, could be read on the first page of the book. Unlike the other books, materials and researches that I have that usually talk about everything about the Lycanthropes, this is the first time that I have encounter something about the first child from their race.

"The cruel King Lycaon of Arcadia tried to tricked the great God Zeus into eating human flesh, wanting to humiliate the God. King Lycaon is always so envious of the immortality of the great Gods. He wants to prove that even the immortal and mightly being like the God itself could be tricked by a mortal like him. But the mighty Zeus cannot be fooled. For wanting the God to commit a cruel act of eating a human, a heavy punishment is waiting for the King"

Punishment? Humiliation? I never thought that the origin of these creatures is a punishment bestowed by the Gods. This is the first time that I have read something like this. Usually in the materials that I have, just like any other mythological beings, their origin is unknown. Some would speculate that it is a gift or a role given to protect or some evolution from another race.

Now this sounds like any other fairytales.

"Without hesitation, Zeus cursed the cruel and pretentious King. Just like what Lycaon wants, Zeus gave him the immortality that he wants but he would from that moment on, would be a slave to his emotions, temper and thirst to kill and eat human flesh as long as he is alive. Thus, the birth of the first lycanthrope"   

I immediately closed the book. I could feel my heart beating fast. My hands were slightly shaking. From the moment that I develop an interest to these creatures, I have always perceived them as a kind of protector and guardian. Something that you could be seen in story books, fairytales or even some television series and movies. Werewolves are like dogs with a little temper and quite huge, that's what I thought. I never have imagined that they bloomed out selfishness and cruelty. Cursed huh?

"Woah! Are you okay? You're sweating too much!" Justin said worriedly and wipe the beads of sweat that flowing from my temple to my neck

"Ye-yeah. Why would I not be?" I said and laugh awkwardly.

Justin looked at me, frowning her forehead. She was about to reach for the book but I took it away further from her. "Oh!? Why? Did you read something horrible from that book?" She said worriedly trying to grab and reach the book at my hand. 

I smiled at her and grab her hand reaching for the book, "Of course not! I'm just feeling hot. And you gave it to me, so stop taking it" I said throwing her hands jokingly in the air.

Justin leaned towards me, "Are you sure?" she said examining my face. "Of course! so back away" I said and push her lightly while awkwardly laughing at her.

"Alright. If you say so. As long as you wont read too much, okay?" She said smiling at me

"Yes, I promise!" I said and hug her tightly.

The night goes by faster than I thought. Justin and I made up; well we can't really drag it longer than half a day. She bid her goodbye and drove her car. It is a 10-minutes drive away from where I live. She wants to take me home, but I told her I would walk to burn the calories I take for the whole day but the truth is, I want to ease my mind from what I read at the diners.

Curse and punishment.

I never really imagine that the reason why there are morphers is a cruel act of humiliation and envious personality. As I was scanning the book a little while ago, I thought the title indicates the first ever transformation of a human to a lycanthrope but I was wrong. First transformation is not the only thing the book is all about. The First Born is about the first child of the first ever lycanthrope who in the book is not named.

"On the night of the first full moon, King Lycaon felt a burning sensation all through out his body. Fangs grew in his mouth; sharp and long claws start to appear and he eventually transform into a huge figure like a dog. Wanting to stop his misery, he attempted to kill his self but was stop by a mysterious woman dressed in white"   

I was so curious as what happened to the king and thus continues reading while Justin is busy eating her foods.

"Retracting the curse of the great God Zeus would be impossible, but controlling and avoiding transformation is not that hard. The mysterious woman gave King Lycaon an elixir to help him control his thirst to human flesh and brought him back to human form. That night, when the king thought that the cursed was avoided, he locked himself with a female servant and they share the quietness of the night. When the sun rise, the cruel King Lycaon find his self disgusted by the fact of spending the night with a lowly servant and exiled the female servant out of the kingdom. No one knew, that the first born of the lycanthrope would be in that woman's womb"

After that, I tried scanning the other pages of the book, but the name of the first born was never mentioned, not even once. Only one clue was left behind, a scar on the left arm of the child shaped like a half moon. As I was avoiding Justin glances on the book, I stopped reading it in the diners. She would really take the book back if she would know that it would only deepen my obsession towards those mythological beings. And I don't want that to happen.

As I am walking in the quiet street of the town, I saw a shadow on my side following my route. I tried not to be so obvious that I knew whoever it was, following me. I turn to every corner that I saw, living in this town gave me a great advantage as to where to turn and when to stop. Upon seeing an opportunity to hide, I turn to my side and hide behind the large garbage bin.

"Woah. Finally..."  I said exhaling and fanning myself.

My knees grew weak and I started to slide down the wall. I sat there for a few minutes, just to be sure that whoever it was, it got tired of following me and turn its back.

"I've been following you for a couple of minutes. Do you really hate me that much that you won't stop walking even when I am calling you?" a man beside me said, sounding so offended and hurt.

My heart began to beat faster. I turn to my side, only to find a familiar face smiling from ear to ear.

"Again!?" I said loudly losing all the energy to exert towards this annoying professor.