The Witch and The Werewolf

A Human in a Witch's Clothing

Evie

The car is dark, besides the light coming in, in flashes from the street lamps we pass. There is a nervous air that hangs upon the passengers. I can tell Scholar Isaac is breathing a little more heavily than usual. Although, my own breath betrays my nervousness as well. 

We ride in complete silence, my stomach beginning to turn from anxiety as well as the sharp turns we're taking. Do all wolves drive so recklessly? The street lights have all but gone now, leaving us in dark silence. I can tell we've reached countryside. 

At last, when I feel the bile rising in my throat, we come to a slow rumble that sounds suspiciously like gravel. I look out my window to see a barely illuminated fence, with great stone pillars and iron bars. I remember them from my childhood. We're here. I'm here. 

I'm home. 

"Well, seeing as we don't have any bags, how about you carry me?" Scholar Isaac muses to one of the men as he steps out of the car. 

He's offered a low growl in response, but shakes it off with a tiny smile to himself. That's the Scholar, always thinking he's the funniest man on earth. 

Although I know he'd offer his hand to me if he'd never met me, I know he won't now. Isaac knows I do not like to be touched. 

"Come along then!" He says in his way of seeing to me getting out of the car. I climb out and gaze upon the beauty of the house I've only dreamed of since moving away. I never thought I'd see it again in my lifetime. 

The white house sits with an impressive size. Even though the large lawn sprays out before it, it does not seem dwarfed in comparison. The roses I remember smelling so sweetly still cling to their trellis along the main doorway. With the life I've lived up until now, I still can't believe I once lived in a place like this. 

A small group of three figures approach us. I can see from their shapes that it is three men. 

"Alpha Luther." Iris addresses the man at the front of the group and nods respectfully. 

"I see you've brought the healer." Alpha Luther acknowledges Scholar Isaac. "James, please see to it that he is brought up to Luna Olivia immediately." He waves his hand to the second man, and the man- James- reaches toward Isaac to guide him, but stops when he sees me. 

"Oh," Isaac mumbles, coming over to me, "This is my assistant. I've been assured she may accompany me." He glances over to Iris, who nods at Alpha Luther. Luther nods back. 

"Ian, please go with Jason and escort Isaac and his assistant." Luther says in almost a commanding tone. 

I turn to look at the third figure from beneath my veiled hood, but a strong feeling sweeps over me. I can feel my heart begin to beat harder and my body feels shaky and off balance. The bile that had gone away moment's before returns to my throat. I can feel it climbing. 

Oh s**t. I need to- 

Before I finish my thought, I'm stumbling behind the car, puking in the white stone gravel below. Isaac darts over to me, but only hovers his hands near. 

"Is she sick?" I hear Iris asking in a concerned tone. 

"No, no! She's merely overcome. She can be quite sensitive to things such as this. She's not accustomed to being around so many. . . people such as yourselves." 

I hear silence and guess that they must be quietly conferring amongst themselves about my state. 

"Alright, come now, here you are." Isaac says in an encouraging tone. I can feel his hands stirring the air around me. I take his hint and rise up, keeping my head down both out of embarrassment and my need to gain control of my self back. 

"See now, she's fine. Just a bit rattled, I tell you. And aren't we all? Dragged in the middle of the night to a place such as this." He seems to argue my case. 

"Mmm," The alpha says in agreement. "Yes." He pauses for a moment, his feet churning the gravel. I see his arm gesture to his companions. The embarrassment I feel is only subsiding to my feeling of needing to stay quiet. I curse myself silently for allowing such a scene. 

"This way." James says quickly breaking the silence. I feel Scholar Isaac staring at me, then he turns and follows the two men. I give up on my embarrassment and head after him, trying to stay close. 

The feeling that came over me, what was it? I have no idea. It was such a strange and strong notion, sinking through my skin, past my muscles, into my bones. I try to push the memory away, looking instead at the back of our escorts heads. They stand about the same height, with the younger one, Ian, standing a few inches taller than his companion. Ian has dark brown hair worn in what looks like a typical young male style while his counterpart, James, has dark straight locks. I look again at the young man. His stance while he walks looks more like a confident stroll. He seems to radiate a powerful air that his companion James does not. 

The sick feeling I experienced before begins to creep up my skin. I look away from the men and concentrate on looking at our surroundings. We have traversed the giant front lawn and now enter the giant black doors of the house. We don't even have to open the doors as they are pushed open by two people, a man and a woman who look on, strong and silent. 

I take in what I can see of them, as my head snaps down to a lowered position while they are facing us. They look incredibly muscular and give off the same air as Ian, albeit not as strongly. They nod their heads at the two escorts before we pass them and enter the house. 

My Goddess. 

The house is breathtaking. A rich but rustic look and the size of a true mansion. White walls with painted trim accents boast paintings which I can only guess cost a fortune from beneath my lashes. A large staircase splits and rolls off to the left and right. I suddenly remember myself amid my surroundings, as I catch glimpses of several other people scattered about the main entrance. My head reflexively casts downward in attempt to make myself as small and unnoticeable as possible. It doesn't work. 

"Who is the girl?" A woman's voice whispers. "She has the cloaks of a witch." 

I look to the dark purple of my cloak swishing around my legs as I walk. I curse myself for not changing. As if I'd had anything else to change into. I look at Isaac and remember his lies about my origins. Hopefully he'll think of something convincing to explain my appearance of a witch. 

Even if I'm not really human, I still have all the powers of a human. I might as well be. 

The murmuring of the people all but drown out as we climb the stairs to the right. The two men have picked up pace, and Isaac seems to have a renewed vigor I never have witnessed while climbing The School's Alchemy Tower. My legs begin burning as we round 2, 3, 4 flights of stairs. I focus on my breathing and calming my nerves. I don't remember as much about this place as I thought, and I still have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing here. 

We finally reach a hallway, where we continue walking at a much slower pace. Doors to rooms jut off to the left and right, but I hear no occupants behind them. The hallway is much more gloomy than the rest of the house, and this area seems to be shut off from most of the others. 

I see that we are approaching a slim black door at the very end of the corridor. The light here is very dim. I suspect that this is where the Luna resides. The air and the decor seem to radiate a sickness themselves. I stop as the two men stand to the left of the door. I see James motion to the door from beneath my lashes. 

"She is in here. Please, go in." James motions again. 

I hear Isaac hmph at this and he steps forward and opens the door gently. Slowly, my nervousness peaks. I haven't thought much about this since we left. I'm hear at the doorstep of THE Luna. The one which I've supposedly cursed with my existence. What if they find out who I am? What if they blame me like my coven? Will they imprison me in the dungeons or fling me from the rooftop?

I can only intake a shuddering breath before the door completely opens and I am met with the sight of the Luna. Isaac motions me in. The room contains a large four poster bed upon clean white tiles. It is surrounded by what looks to be medical stations, each containing various tools and machinery. The Luna is small in comparison to the large bed. She lays upon the pillowy mattress so delicately that I fear my breath may shatter her very being. Her long blonde hair is arranged on the pillow behind her in such a fashion that I know only someone who truly cares for her would do. Her body is thin and weak looking, covered by a long white nightgown that is stained with wet perspiration. 

I look at her pale skin and notice that it shines with sweat. But not only the sweat is making it shine. Her skin looks shimmery to me, like the moon reflecting off a cool pool of water. I am drawn to her instantly. The strong feeling returns, but this time without a sickness. I feel a connection to her, like I must care for her. I look down at her and instantly know why. She reminds me of my mother. 

Her face, twisted in pain, eyes flickering beneath glistening lids, the rise and fall of her chest as her breath comes and goes- it transports me back to the bedside of my mother in those last few days. Suddenly, I know what I need to do. Its like a string tied around my wrist being pulled to her forehead. 

I place my palm across her brow and instantly feel the fire radiating from it. I sense tense movement behind me, but it ceases when she gasps in what I guess is pleasure. I can see her strained body relax and her breathing slows to a longer and deeper draw. Her eyes flicker open and I'm met with beautiful blue eyes that are fogged with fever. A smile spreads slowly across her lips like she's greeting me as a long lost friend. 

I move to pull my hand away from her forehead to give Isaac room to work. But I feel a light pressure on my wrist and am shocked to see her small fingers grasping it. I can feel everyone's eyes on me. It makes me uncomfortable and I shrink within my cloak. The need to comfort her is replaced by the need to feel small again. 

As if sensing this, she let's out a peaceful sigh and closes her eyes. Her wrist slacks and falls softly to the pillow below. I take a step backward, realizing my legs are very weak beneath me. One of the men steps toward me to steady me, but Isaac moves between us. 

"You must leave us now." He hovers protectively around me, still staring in awe as I sway. I can hear the soft click of the door shutting behind me and Isaac let's out a breath I assume he's been holding for a while. 

"Just don't hit your head." He says quietly. My curiosity peaks at these words, but before I can ponder this I feel a swimming in my head. And the lights go dim in my vision. I can feel the floor meet my back and then nothing. 

Ian 

A strange prickling climbed my arms as the black car pulled into the drive. The crunch of gravel was replaced by the emerging sounds of passengers from the vehicle. Good, they were here. Iris, Sam, Jackson, Nathan, and the healer. They were all accounted for. 

So there had been no trouble in convincing him to come. . . I turn to James. He nods at me in agreement. Some other sound pricks my ears and I jerk toward the sight of another figure emerging from the car. Purple robes tell me it is a coven member. The silhouette tells me that it is a witch, not a warlock. I shoot a look to James to be on his guard. 

They partake in greetings with my father, who welcomes them but knows better to question the appearance of an extra member in their party. 

"That is my assistant." The old man introduces the girl. "I've been assured she may accompany me." 

I look at Iris, who shrugs in defeat. So, that's what it takes to persuade an old man, eh? I try to catch a better look at the girl, but her hood is drawn low over her face. Something creeps into my chest. A tightness springs into my muscles, and I feel my wolf, Haze, stand to attention within my mind. Something sturs my senses. I see her stumble to the back of the car and vomit. The yellow mass she projects upon the white stone sets my stomach turning and I look away. 

When I look back, Iris is shooting me a c****d eyebrow and playful grin. 

Feeling sick big guy? I hear her in my mind-link. I don't answer but puff my chest out a little more on instinct. I see my father motion for James and I to take them quickly to my mother. My thoughts go back to her, laying there, so fragile against the hardness of that room. 

"This way." James says to the newcomers. I follow alongside him, leading the way to my failing mother. I pray that this healer can help her more than that prick, Ogden. His cruel treatments seemed only to make my mother worse. A tingling feeling makes its way through my scalp. I shoot a look back at the healer and his assistant only to find her eyes retreating from my head, downward to the walkway. The sensation halts. I shake my head and bring my thoughts back to my mother. My pace quickens through the doorway. My pack bow their heads as a brief sign of respect as we enter. 

I can feel the prying stares as my pack recognizes the robes of the witch. I hear their whispers of confusement and ignore them. We climb the stairs, my pace quickening at the thought of my mother, alone. We reach the door to her room quickly and I step aside to allow the healer inside. 

I catch an unusual scent as the witch passes me. It smells like. . . I trail off in my thoughts and am quickly refocused at the sight of my frail mother when the door opens. Her body is as weak as I've ever seen it and the fever is ravaging her. 

A quick movement to my right pulls my gaze toward the witch. I see her hand reach toward the pale face of my mother. James and I tense in unison, but I force myself to relax as James mind-links me.

Relax Ian, they're here to help her. 

I edge forward to see her hand connect with my mother's face. A force seems to run through my mother. Her muscles relax and her breathing calms. I see her eyes flicker open, something they hadn't done in weeks. Tears spring to my eyes, but I force them away and take a step forward to look at her closer. 

The witch seems to notice my movements and I see her body shrink away from us. My mother's fingers dart to her wrist. It seems to be a light grip, but I know my mother is using her full strength, asking the girl not to forsake her. Then, my mother sighs and collapses. But it isn't in weak exhaustion, it is in weak release. I see a whole different demeanor in my mother now. She isn't fitful or tense.

My eyes travel from my mother to the witch. She seems to be unsteady. I can sense a great power has been drained from her, but what power? I do not know. I instinctively reach for her, to steady her. 

The healer moves between us, hovering between her and I, protectively. He doesn't touch her, I notice, and it seems like he does not want me to touch her either. 

"You must leave us now." I see him staring at her with what mirrors the look of wonder in James' eyes. It confuses me to see him surprised that a witch could have such a power. Not just a witch, but a healer's assistant. 

James nudges my arm, but I am reluctant to leave. I conceded and find myself closing the door behind us, leaving the healer and his witch to their work. 

"Just don't hit your head." I hear the healer say to who I assume is the witch. A light thudding sound from behind the door answers him. 

What a strange pair. 

James answers my mind-link with an amused look. 

The relief that floods over me thinking of my mother's change in demeanor overrides my ability to think. I suddenly feel exhausted. 

Drinks? I turn to James. 

You read my mind. James smiles at me.