Book of Curses

Chapter 3.

“Hah! A prophecy.” Tom let out a laugh, to him it was the greatest thing in the world and when he looked at me I could see it in his eyes. I thought this was just an odd thing to find in any book and if it was a joke it was a pretty sad one.  

“Come on, read it!” Christie practically begged. She looked like a child asking for a cookie at this point and I couldn’t help but giggle. “I want to hear.” 

Smiling at her I bent closer to the book to see what the writing that had been twice as small as my very own said. It was hard to make out but in the end somehow I managed to read it. “A girl and boy of human decent will appear to us, their appearance easily identifies them as different from our own, thus helping to prove who they might be, and they will bring us hope and peace, end our war, and save our lives. 

Their strength will be tested, though it will be mortal strength at the beginning, easily making them seem unworthy of the title of our saviors. They will be tested in each of the six regions, and learn to control what power was bestowed on them when entering our world. Their blood will be untainted, and in time their true forms will be shown to all.

 Though their hardships will be many that they think they cannot face, they will face them, and those marked at birth with the symbol of the savior's Guardians will come forth, only when the blood of the two is sac- Ow!” 

Letting out a yelp I ripped my hand away from the book, hearing my own twins echoing yell I shoved my finger into my mouth and gave him a questioning look. He regarded me with a look of sympathy and his own confusion as small beads of blood dripped from his finger onto his jeans and that was when it finally dawned on me, the book had practically bitten us both. 

“The hell was that?” I yelled looking from him to the book and back, but just as I had looked back at it a second time I saw the writing start to change into another language and then begin to glow a brilliant blood-red color. 

Shock came over me quickly and the only thing I could do was just stare in confusion at the book. The glow only seemed to grow brighter and brighter and when I caught my brothers eyes he looked horrified by what was happening right before him.

Then the book seemed to fall off our very laps and onto the floor with a loud thump. It was emitting a strange white glow that gradually ebbed into a red one and with all three of us staring down at it, we were left unsure of what to do or say. Everything seemed to happen so fast though I don’t think we could’ve ever known what to do.

“What the hell is going on? Tom! Raine!” I could just barely hear Christie screaming behind us as I stared unblinking into the white light as it grew brighter and brighter and soon enough the pages begane to flip wildly as if they had a mind of their very own. Jumping up I tried to back away from it all only to manage tripping on the edge of the couch in my efforts and fall forward painfully onto my knees, cursing at the sharp pain that flared up my body from the impact of it.

Looking over I saw Tom covering his face with his right arm almost seeming to try and block out the light and when I saw his eyes he seemed to be glaring at the book as if doing so would kill it. Soon enough I ended up covering my own eyes from the harsh light and then there was silence. It was as if I’d turned deaf, no screaming, no pages flapping in an unseen wind, nothing. Then I started to panic but, before it could get very far I felt myself suddenly fall through the floor and continue to fall.

 Screams ripped themselves from my throat but I heard nothing but my own voice around me and only felt my vocal cords at work. I couldn’t see anything but white all around me. My heart began to rapidly speed up in the panic I was now feeling and I just kept screaming until suddenly I had felt myself pass out.

****

I began to feel myself awaken, it took me a moment but I quickly realized that wherever it was that I was lying it was cold and warm all at the same exact time. Only a second seemed to pass before the smell of fresh air and grass hit my senses all at once. Blinking my still blurry eyes a few times I was able to finally focus enough to see that there was nothing but trees and grass all around me. 

The clear blue sky above me and just barely coming through the trees was the warm sun, brighter than I’d ever remembered seeing it. That’s when my senses started finally screaming WHERE THE HELL AM I? At me and I began to feel the panic swell back up within my chest again. 

Almost all at once, everything came rushing back to me in what felt like a huge blast, and I didn’t know what to do. The pain, the book, Christie yelling, the blinding white light and then the infinite falling. Sitting myself up as straight as I could possibly manage I looked around at everything but all I could see was trees, trees and more trees. 

It seemed like it was going on forever no matter what direction I looked and with dread I looked down at myself to see if I’d been hurt and pinched myself to see if I could even feel it, all I found in the end though was dirty clothes and skin and a stinging in my hand. 

Taking a deep, steadying breath I tried my best to calm myself down once more and when I finally felt like I was there I took in my surroundings again and began to listen to see if I could hear the sound of a car or busy people quickly pushing past one another to get to wherever they needed to in New York.

Somehow I had thought that maybe I’d just fallen asleep and was sleep walking and wandered outside of the town somehow but even then, there would’ve been some sort of noise. Kids playing and yelling, the highway or anything. But, that was not the case. 

There was absolutely nothing around me, no houses or buildings, no sounds of any sort to be heard anywhere. That was what scared me the most was the unsettling silence that seemed to surround me and then just like that I heard a sound I had never thought I’d be so happy to hear in my life. Tom groaning and waking up. 

"Tom!" I practically screamed his name as I felt the burn of tears in my eyes. He was here it was ok, it’d be ok. 

"Ugh, Ra-Raine?" He asked aloud, lifting his head slowly he stared at me from a good ten feet away. His eyes were still obviously adjusting and soon he was giving me the ‘Are you real?’ look.  "Where are we? Where's Christie?"

"I don't know." I started speaking rather quickly, I was freaked out and that was all I really knew. I wanted him to know that but I wanted to still be some level of helpful in the end. "I think; I think it's all a REALLY bad dream, or maybe we're dea-"

I was suddenly cut off mid-sentence. Letting a sharp scream rip from my throat from the pang of white-hot pain that suddenly bloomed in my right arm and soon I was glaring daggers at Tom realizing what he’d just done. Pinching me? Really? How was that even going to help us?

"Feel that?" Asking the question he arched an eyebrow at me, his head c*****g to the side as if trying his best to look innocent. 

"Yes, I f*****g felt that!" I snapped back at him, letting the venom in my voice seep out onto each word as much as I possibly could. I wanted to tear his head off at that moment. 

"Not dreams then, I think we need to find a building or some people... Something." He said and started to stand himself up as straight as he possibly could. 

Truth be told though, I was more interested in what was going on behind him at that moment in time. I was frozen in fear, sure that I was a given and I had every right to be, I mean I had wanted to find people sure but they weren’t the kind of people I was wanting to find or at least they didn’t look like they were in the end.  

“I think; people found us.” I whispered it to him, my eyes still glued to the group of people who stood behind him. 

Turning slowly, Tom focused in on the group of men and from the rigid way he froze I knew he wasn’t sure how to feel at that moment. Quickly I did my best to stand up and nearly fell over in my own haste as I rushed over to Tom and held onto his arm looking at each and everyone of the people. 

“Halt! Who are you?” A males voice boomed loudly, it was like he was speaking through an unseen loudspeaker.

“R-Raine Renning.” I managed to get the words out though they’d been shaky. My eyes were wide as I studied all of them for a second, they looked like they lived out here and that was what worried me the most. 

“Thomas Renning.” Tom spoke it like there wasn’t an ounce of fear in his body.

Putting his hands on my shoulder he tried his best to steady me when I started to stumble over my own feet and then his attention abruptly was back to the men who stood in front of us. Murmurs began to spring from the group of them as they kept glancing to us and suddenly I was left assuming that they were speaking about us, but I wasn’t going to ask. 

“Are you… Human?” The man with the rather loud voice had asked us looking each of us over slowly as if trying to place us correctly. 

“Yes, are you?” Tom asked the question his eyebrow arching in question as he did so. 

“No, I am of Lycanthrope blood.” He announced to him speaking rather calmly, keeping eye contact before he continued on. “You must be the humans of the legend. We've all been told your arrival would be soon, and no sane human would wander in our lands.” 

“What?” I couldn’t help but ask aloud, this wasn’t something you heard every day of your life. I was honestly concerned. “Listen you need to see a doctor. Lycanthropes’ do not exist, well possibly in children’s books, or perhaps Hollywood, but not reality.” 

“Hollywood? What is that?” One of the others asked snapping their head up and looking at me as if I were the one who was an Alien here or something. 

“No time, follow us quickly; we’re on our monthly hunt.” The original guy stated and as soon as the words left his mouth he was walking off with the others following close behind him. I glanced at Tom and he nodded his head once, following after the group of men. 

Taking a breath I thought over my life choices prior to this day and how they could’ve lead me here but after thinking it over I decided it was for the best if I just followed Tom and tried my hardest to keep myself calm. We were God knew where and confused and if this was our only lead? Well then ok.

When we were following after them I had managed to get my first glimpse of just how many of them had been standing there, roughly around twenty of them and four had stayed in the back to follow after us. I didn’t quite understand what was going on but I was feeling paranoid and fearful at the whole situation, they really were like a pack of wolves. 

 We didn’t end up walking all too far before there was an ear-splitting howl that seemed to become closer and closer to where we were all standing. Every single hair on my arms and neck rose on end and all of the men had seemed to stop in place and freeze when the leader stopped moving and grunted before speaking. 

“Looks like they've moved closer, just up ahead boys.” He shouted back to the entire group so loudly that I could’ve sworn I heard the very ground beneath me vibrate.

Glancing to Thomas with a look of uncertainty I caught a look of his own face and saw a hardened sculpture of pure worry. His eyes were moving from one area to another and I knew he was trying to map out the area we were in and the routes we were taking. He usually did this only when mom took us home to one of her new boyfriends or someone was threatening one of us. I wasn’t sure what to make of any of it yet but just seeing the look on his face was enough for me to keep my guard up.

After what felt like miles of walking we had stopped and were still surrounded by trees and a large group of people. Men, a few women now and teens were in the crowd as well as some young children who seemed rather curious about us. We were almost immediately ushered toward them all without any explanation or choice but soon enough were stopped before a man and woman who were fully dressed it seemed unlike the others around us. 

The man who stood in front of us then waved to the men and everyone else who had been surrounding the two of us and had them step away, then stepping in closer to us he looked us over and nodded before turning back to the two that had been dressed fully.

“Queen Arily, King Z’ev, we’ve found them.” 

Slowly the man who stood before us moved an inch away from what would’ve been personal space between us, he smiled a strangely kind smile to the pair of us. He was dressed in nothing more than a loose-fitting shirt and leather pants, but he walked barefoot without a care in the world. His long dark brown hair was tied at the base of his neck in a tight pony tail and when he did catch our eyes all I could see were yellow orbs that seemed to take each one of us in almost predator in the way it was done, nodding to himself he pressed his lips into a thin white line on his lips and looked to his wife. 

“So, you are the Chosen?” He inquired, his face seemed to relax as he spoke and then bowed, smiling at us. “I am the pack leader Z’ev, this,” he raised his right arm and motioned towards the woman who stood rather gracefully next to him who seemed to make his smile grow even wider. “Is my beautiful mate, Arily.” 

The woman stepped forward taking care to be cautious with her steps, a pair of brown leather pants and a loose white tank top was all that covered her body. Her skin was copper colored and practically glowing in the sunlight and against her skin in stark contrast was her pin straight black hair, her own matching yellow eyes stood out on her more than anything to me. Bowing to us she offered a smile and as she stood back up she moved to her mate and leaned into him. 

I could see how she was a Queen, even in such torn up and basic clothing there was just something so regal about how she moved and looked. It was as if she was born only to be where she was now but even in that beauty I could sense the power, it was unsettling and as much as my mind told me things like what they claimed to be didn’t exist, my heart somehow knew otherwise. I didn’t want to believe it for a moment though.

Tom did his best in keeping himself together, he never wavered from his calm and fearless approach as he looked from me to them and back, bowing to them slightly and giving me the hint I should as well. His face was still like stone though, but not nearly as severe as it once was. 

“I’m Thomas Renning; this is my sister Raine.” 

“This is nice and all,” I started, still refusing to bow to them. My voice came out in a rather strange squeak that I wasn’t expecting and startled me. Clearing it I realized the dryness in my mouth and did my best to ignore it and try again. “But where are we?” 

“The region of Predatory Death, or as I’d rather call it, The Earth Region.” Z’ev turned his attention to me all smiles still as he spoke, saying it as if it were practically nothing short of normal conversation to be having. 

“Earth Region, What?” I was looking at him as if he’d sprouted a second head but I had a right to didn’t I? Earth region? That didn’t exist and I was more than certain he was insane. 

Werewolves didn’t exist and sure Arily had a power coming off her that was frightening she could easily just be a rather strong young woman who could kick my ass. There was rational sides to all of this and I had a feeling that this was just a group of crazies. 

Arily looked at me and let her beautiful smile die down into a simple grin before then nodding her head to me as she spoke. “One of the six regions that make up our world: Earth, Fire, Air, Water or Ice, Darkness, and Light. We are a small section of what this region homes, and we are not the only creatures who live here. Lycanthropes are the strongest of all, but shapeshifters find themselves born here as well. We are but predators trying to live our lives in peace, or as much peace as we can come upon.” 

“Yes, though the Gods say otherwise to that.” There was a rather feral growl that sounded from Z’ev as he spoke. It was animalistic and I couldn’t help but flinch at the sound. “Sita thinks it’s fun to create havoc, an all-out blood war between three breeds of shape shifters and Lycans. This is why we cannot keep you here, though we would if it were possible, so do forgive us.” 

I had opened my mouth as if I was going to speak but when I did I heard something that resembled a real roar causing me to slam my mouth shut. Several men and women began to growl all around us and I didn’t know what to do other than move myself closer to Tom and hold onto his arm hoping whatever this was would just end already. 

Looking around, I began to notice that skin started moving on some of those closer to me before beginning to ripple wildly as if something was trying to escape from underneath the skin. Before I could even begin to figure out what was happening a crack sounded near by and when I looked to the source there was a scream of pain from the man closest to me before whimpers followed after. 

Watching him closely I gripped tightly onto Tom with all my might as I watched fur begin to sprout from the man’s skin and fingers and grow longer and longer by the second. His legs began to twist and turn before morphing into what looked like haunches. Several others around him began to transform as well some of them looked closer to wolves but others were so disfigured looking, so close to what the movies portrayed werewolves to look like. But once they stood up fully I tried to back myself into Tom as quickly as I could, almost falling had it not been for him grabbing hold of my arm and steadying me as he looked on and watched what was happening around us as well. 

“Dolphus, Eyloff, Lupus, Felan, take them away now!” Z’ev quickly turned and shouted the order as fast as he could before his body began to change as well, the words being turned slowly into growls as he shifted.

“Forgive us, please.” Arily said softly speaking to us before she moved away from us and began to shift as well. Once she was changed she stood next to Z’ev and waited for him to move out. The only ones who never changed were teenagers and children. 

They soon took off, jaws snapping wildly as they howled. Many were growling as if they were going to kill whatever it was if it got any closer to them before following quickly after their King and Queen. I stood still watching as it unfolded around me like a deer in headlights. This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.

Noticing that there was movement close by us my attention quickly snapped to what was causing it and when I saw three men and a woman moving towards us in a quick pace I wanted to jump away but after what I had just witnessed I knew I wouldn’t be able to outrun any of them. 

“Sexier looking when they’re human aren’t they?” One of the men asked, a huge grin on his face. “I’d tap any of them boys as long as they’ve got a nice package on them, if you know what I mean.” 

“Dolphus!” The woman who stood beside them snapped at him and narrowed her eyes. He held his hands up in defense before rolling his eyes and looking away.

Staring at them blankly I had absolutely no words. This was beyond strange and out of this world at this point. Was he talking about the men who had went by? So that made him gay right? Or no, was that wrong to think? Shaking the thoughts away I just stared at him with my mouth agape before I realized I was doing it. Were these who they sent to help us then? 

“Come, we must move fast.” Shifting my eyes I looked at another man who stood among them. He was older by far and much different looking than the others, but that also made him the easiest to tell apart from the rest. The only thing that stood out to me about him though was just how pissed off he looked. 

“That’d be General Eyloff, sexy as can be, but hellishly rude.” Dolphus had whispered in towards the two of us shrugging a shoulder after.  “General, the stables I presume” 

The General sighed “ So he doesn’t kill you, yes Dolphus.” 

“Ah, well thank you Lupus.” Dolphus smiled brightly at the other man and then looked over the girl and winked at her. Looking utterly disgusted with him she snarled in response. 

Being the only one left I had to put a name to that only meant she was Felan. Looking at her I did my best to try and not cause her to look at me herself. She was shorter than even I was but I could see the ripple of muscle under her skin every now and then. Her hair was cut short and was an odd caramel color, there were three rigid scars that decorated the left side of her face and her eyes were so full of hate that I had no clue what could’ve ever caused it. 

Long leather pants covered her lower half of her body and a belt was across them, boots covered her feet and a short sleeved shirt covered her upper body. Her golden eyes were deadly enough looking that you couldn’t help but cringe when she did happen to catch your eye. As pretty as she was she was also rather off-putting as well. 

Dolphus was well over six-foot tall with short spiky looking brown hair, his eyes were such a bright green they practically glowed when you saw them but when you did you couldn’t help but stare. He wore a short with no sleeves revealing a lion tattoo on his upper right shoulder and it almost seemed to move when he tensed his muscles and relaxed them. 

His skin was a light tan color but it looked extremely dark in comparison to the light-colored clothing that clung so tightly to his body outlining every muscle. There was a small scar at the base of his neck on the left side and for the most part his shirt seemed to do a good job in covering it but sometimes it still showed under the cloth. 

Lupus moved up to Eyloff quickly, pulling the man off to the side and talking to him silently. I caught a good look at him and realized he was almost identical to Dolphus, which meant they had to be brothers or related. The only noticeable difference was that his hair was longer and lighter in color. 

“So um, why is it you’re all fully clothed but those others weren’t?” I decided to ask Dolphus, he seemed like the harmless one, and I rather take my chances with him than with the others. 

“The kids, they’re too lazy to fully dress, and the others just shifted back when you arrived.” A laugh fell from his lips as he shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh.” I turned my head, watching the others as they moved up ahead slowly. Tom had walked away from me and was now up where they were, talking with them. I started walking with Dolphus and Felan, following after them. Suddenly, Eyloff stilled and then Lupus did too. 

The two of them turned towards me, Dolphus and Felan signaling for us to be quiet and then looking around slowly. I furrowed my eyebrows but didn't argue. I looked into the woods and then back at them, getting a good look at Eyloff finally. 

He was as tall as Tom, with golden hair that was tied back at the base of his neck. His eyes were a grey color and were scanning the area quickly. The muscles under his shirt were outlined so that I could see them moving.  

Right as I about to ask what was going on, a girl walked out of the trees smiling at the boys. I don't think it would've been strange except, she was naked as the day she was born, she was moving over to Eyloff, Tom and Lupus who were all fixated on her. 

Beside me, I heard Dolphus let out a sigh that sounded of pure boredom as he shifted his body. The girl kept looking the boys over, they seemed to be mesmerized as they continued to stare at her with awe and wonder. 

“General, Panther shapeshifter, kill her, Now…” Dolphus announced to him, as if this was something that happened every day. Even the look on his face was extremely bored. 

Eyloff shook his head quickly, letting out a blood-curdling growl. The girl jumped back hissing at him and shifted smoothly into a black panther. She made it looked as simple to do as stepping backwards; there was no bone's breaking or anything else. 

Eyloff turned, shoved Tom back towards us, and with the disturbing sound of breaking bones and a loud growl he turned into a wolf. He stood over the panther, snarling and growling down at her, ready to kill. 

“Too bad she’s evil, probably would’ve made you a good wife Lupy.” Dolphus snickered at Lupus, before wiggling his eyebrows back and forth. 

I looked at him as if he was a total moron, and then watched in horror as the General and the Panther fought in front of us. Horror because to me it really was unbelievable to see this happening with my own two eyes, but also because they were killing each other, fighting without mercy, or trying to at least. 

Eyloff let out a roar, swiped at her face and narrowly missed her. She jumped backwards away from him and started circling again, when he swiped at her this time, he got her, causing her to shift back and clutch her bloodied face whimpering. 

“I didn’t want to hurt you; I just wanted to scare you!” She screamed at him, her hand still clutching her face. She was short, black hair, vibrant eyes. Her skin was pale and well from what I saw she was very much so curvy. “They threatened to kill her, my daughter Anna, I’m sorry.”

“And where are they?” Dolphus asked her, speaking in a bemused voice. 

“I’ll take you to them. Just, please help me get my child back. I don’t like this war any more than you.” She told them, moving her hand from her face and looking at it before placing it back over the wound.

Eyloff looked back at us, then at Dolphus for a long moment. The two of them shared a look, Eyloff seemed to have given into her. Dolphus chuckled. “Fine, so much as accidentally cut an arm open, or scratch someone, and you’re dead.” Eyloff snarled at her, while tugging on new clothes that he was handed by Lupus. Then he pulling his now loose hair back up. 

Lupus picked up what looked like a pack, slinging it back over his shoulder and shook his head at Eyloff. It looked like he was trying his hardest not to laugh at him as I watched the scene.

The girl eagerly nodded her head; Eyloff moved on and everyone else followed leaving the girl on her own. I pulled off my top shirt not caring if I was running around in my tank top or not. Pressing it against her face to apply pressure to the wound that didn’t seem nearly as bad now. 

“Why are you helping me?” She asked while looking up at me, sounding startled by the help. 

“Because, leaving you like this is wrong.” I told her, trying to smile as best as I could. 

“Put this on.” I looked up, seeing Tom hand her his shirt. “Hurry, before they leave us.” 

The girl's eyes grew larger than before as she took the shirt from him and tried to stand up with my help. She quickly pulled on Tom's shirt; it barely fit around her small body. 

“Thank you.” She whispered looking at the ground while pressing my shirt to her face still.

“No problem.” Tom smiled a bit, turned and started to lead us back to where the others had disappeared to. 

“What’s your name?” I asked her. 

“Saphire.” She spoke it weakly; her blue eyes watched me warily as if she wasn't sure yet. I could understand that after everything that had just happened. 

“I’m Raine, that boy; he’s my twin brother Thomas.” 

She smiled. “You’re the two of legend. That's why you’re being so kind.” It was muttered, but I still heard it as if she spoke it loudly, I scratched at my neck, I was getting tired of hearing that already. 

“Yeah we’ve been told that a lot recently.” I smiled as best I could, trying not to freak out over it or start bombarding her with questions pertaining to exactly what that meant. 

"Where to?” Eyloff turned his head to ask, looking back at us. 

“North, but it’s a two days hike.” Saphire said loudly to him, frowning as she did. 

“Very well, we’ll make camp up ahead, and then start again at dawn.” Eyloff muttered, walking forward.

“You’re really going to help?” Saphire looked at me, asking the question, and I looked at the others, and then thought about it. 

“I can try.” 

She smiled, muttering what vaguely sounded like a 'thank you' to me before we both saw Eyloff turn back to us. He waved her over to him and leaned down, whispering something to her that had my curiosity working a mile an hour. 

“We’re going in format B apparently; the two day’s hike won't be needed. They followed her.” Eyloff announced, his face looked grim but there was a strange gleam in his eye, as if this was something he had been waiting for.

Felan moved in as quickly as she could, back to me and stood on my right side. Dolphus flanked my left side. Lupus pulled Tom back towards us and wedged him between Felan and me then strode back to Saphire and walked on her right side. 

“We’re in defense form, basically. We're supposed to protect you two, they protect her, if you were wondering.” Dolphus leaned down; whispering into my ear to let me know what was going on. “Is your brother single, by the way?” 

I glanced at him, trying as hard as possible not to start laughing. As seriously as I could, I looked at him fully and answered him. “Yes, but he’s not into guys.” 

“Don’t worry, I could turn him easily.” He replied simply, smirking and winking at me. 

“Uh, um, ok then.” I just looked away, leaving it at that and tried to see what was going on ahead. 

I heard Dolphus laugh silently, and then I could feel the shifting as he leaned down towards my ear. “Back to the other topic, whatever happens, we won't let you two be killed, wolves honor.” 

I looked at him, then towards Tom and Felan, and back at him, with worry written all over my face. There were so many things that could go wrong here, but even though I didn't know him, I was going to put my trust and faith in him. 

Don't get me wrong, I mean fear isn't something that comes easily to Tom or me. I can throw a punch and take two in return, get back up and still go, but this definitely wasn't home, and these weren't exactly humans. All in all, I hardly understood anything, and it had my nerves on the edge. I was trying to keep from screaming until my throat went raw. 

We kept moving until we heard a blood curdling wild cats yowl, I heard it as clear as a bell and there was a following growl. My entire body tensed up, regardless of what world you were in that growl was something you didn't want to hear. Saphire recoiled quickly, when she had moved back nearly a foot, a cat leapt towards her; it stopped and stood still, and I saw it fully. It registered fast that it was a cheetah, soon followed by a tiger and various other large cats that I'd only dreamed of ever seeing. I really didn't want to die by one. 

“Saphire, how nice of you to join us, and oh look you brought us Lycans - and oh, I smell another shifter and humans- how pleasant.” A woman smiled as she spoke, a long white tattered dressed hugged her body as she stalked forward. Her eyes were glaring slits as she moved closer, and behind her was a child whom she seemed to be dragging along, not caring if she hurt her or not. The child looked up at us with huge blue eyes; her black hair was matted to her tear-streaked face. 

“Mom!” She shouted fearfully, and then was yanked so hard she was lifted off the ground by the woman.  

“Anna!” Saphire cried out, looking up at the woman as she moved forward slightly. “Let her go! I did what you wanted!”

The woman in front of us made a tsking sound, wagging her finger from side to side at Saphire. “Pity, pity, you didn’t quite do it.” Her lips slowly pulled into a sickeningly happy smile. “I said to kill the Lycanthropes and bring me the humans - Now look, I’ve got to kill them as well and your child, poor Anna.” 

She let out what sounded like a disappointed sigh while looking down at the little girl.  “So sad that your husband died for being a fool, now your sweet innocent daughter has to die because you couldn’t follow orders.” Making a sound that seemed as if she was purring, she dragged one of her nails down Anna's face and grinned as the girl yanked backward, away from her. 

“Jade, please! You don’t have to do this!” Saphire shouted at her, pleading with her as best she could. 

“Yet, I think I do.” Jade smiled at her. Her eyes seemed to change to a bright yellow color as she moved her body slowly.

“What is wrong with you?” I screamed at her. I noticed Dolphus looking at me as if I had just hit him, and Tom tensed next to me, but I didn't care. This was sickening to watch, and I couldn't do it anymore. “She’s a child!”

“Stay out of our affairs human, and we won't let the children cut you to pieces while you’re still living.” Jade hissed, looking at me and curling her lips back in a snarl.

“Now, see, I don’t give a damn what you say really, or do, for that matter, but do not threaten my sister.” Tom shifted. His voice came out sounding, cold and sinister; I wasn't used to it and felt the goose bumps on my arms forming. 

Looking over at him, I noticed how he was smiling straight at Jade, and it wasn't a happy smile, it was one of those ones that made your blood run cold. One of those smiles that he rarely sported, unless he really was pissed off and ready to kill someone with his bare hands. He'd only spoken and looked like that once, when someone mom brought home raised his hand to me. 

“Bold humans aren’t they?” Jade's voice rang in an amused sounding laugh. “Fine! Kill them all! Spare no one! We will feast on their dead bodies tonight!” 

Before I could even comprehend what was going on, dozens of bodies lunged towards us, shredding their flesh and turning into large cats. The teenagers that were with her ran forward carrying blades, and shouting their bloodlust for all to hear. 

Dolphus let out an inhuman snarl, shedding his skin almost as they had, and turned into an actual wolf, with tan fur and bright yellow eyes. He grabbed one of the cats and threw it to the side as quickly as he could, just seconds before it'd been an inch from my face.

Felan's skin rippled and I heard the bones snapping. Her body shot up a good two feet, and she began to change into her Lycan form, throwing anyone who came within a foot of her to the side. I felt the pounding of my heart in my chest as I looked as chaos broke out within a few seconds. 

I found Tom, looked over just as he ducked a boy who came charging towards him, turning he slammed his foot into the boys back and bringing it down onto his head. The boy fell to his knees, dropped his blade and was out cold. Tom grabbed the blade, looked back at me with a cool dead look in his eyes and swung at a boy who had come up behind me, knocking him down. 

“Watch it, Raine.” He said, meeting my gaze. 

I took note of what he said, and looked for Saphire quickly. I caught a glimpse of her for a moment; she yelled something I couldn't understand before she lunged at Jade, turning into her panther form mid jump. Jade's expression was full of panic for a moment. Then she flung Anna to the side to run towards Saphire while turning into a white bengal tiger. I saw Anna fall to the ground, crying out for her mother to stop. 

I looked away just in time to see a blade coming towards me, before it suddenly fell to the ground. The person that had been holding the blade lay in halves in front of Dolphus and one of the other Lycans. I thanked them quickly and grabbed the fallen sword. It was unfamiliar in my hand and weighed so much I was worried about using it. 

Swinging it once I figured it was better than nothing, I needed the protection. Dead bodies littered the ground around me as I sprinted toward Anna, dodging the mangled bodies that were falling as people fought. I dodged one of the cats that came flying by, and heard it meeting its death soon after by the hands of Dolphus, Eyloff or someone else.

Careful not to be seen or heard I made it up to Anna and grabbed her around the waist and pulled her away from the fight. I ignored the screams and kicking as I pulled her aside, until I was sure we were far enough back to safely talk to her.

“I’m not going to hurt you!” I said to her calmly while tightening my grip on her as she struggled against me. 

“Mom!” She screamed as loudly as she could, kicking her leg against my own. “You can’t leave her like that! She’ll die!” 

I let my head tilt down, looking sadly at Anna. “She wants you safe, please Anna.”

I felt the hot splatter of her tears against my arm as she began to sob. “She’ll die! She can’t die!”

I pulled the small girl against my chest, holding her there to try to shield her from the m******e as well as to comfort her. I looked for Tom, remembering that he was out in that mess. I was relieved when I spotted him charging towards us, a blood-drenched blade in hand. His face was emotionless and covered with blood and dirt. 

“You ok?” He managed to ask as soon as he was close enough to make sure we heard him. 

Nodding my head, I looked down at Anna, then back at him, giving him a look over. “I’m alright, what about you? Are you hurt?”  

He looked at me for a moment and then began to move his arm around in a circle, wincing from it as he shook his head. “I’m fine.” Turning his head, he looked over at Anna, and I saw his expression change. He looked so sad; he moved closer to her, and I let Anna go, watching as he talked to her in a hushed voice, trying to calm her down. 

He was using his body as a shield as he stood there, and I saw her nodding and muttering back to him. She seemed at ease with him, and that was good enough for me. I moved to look at the battle.

I looked in pure horror at the scene behind him; I spotted a black panther running quickly from a tiger. The tiger lunged and knocked the panther to the side, making it yowl loudly and struggle to stand up. The tiger started moving closer. 

“Saphire.” Whispering to myself, I covered my mouth and watched.

Jumping up, I charged and ignored Tom as he yelled out his protests. I kept going, gripping the sword I'd picked up earlier tightly in my hand. Don't be too late Raine, don't be, don't, don't, don't… I thought to myself as I got to Saphire, jumping forward. 

The tiger's paw was about to come down, claws out at full length.  I swung the sword in my hand out of sheer reaction, slashing it at her paw. I watched the small beads of blood as they started to well up in a large cut, Jade let out a snarl and started pacing back and forth in front of me. 

I stared at her intently. My breath was coming quicker than normal, but I didn't care; I was too worried about this. A growl erupted from her, and she started slinking forward again. I could feel my heart hammering so hard I thought it was lodged in my throat. 

My right arm slashed out again, this time it swiped across Jade's face; she roared in anger, and I wanted to cover my ears. Then she lunged at me. I lifted my arms up as fast as I could to try to cover my face, the sword was pointed out away from me, and I let out a scream. 

I knew I should’ve probably thought it out more before running out like I had but I wanted to do something. I had wanted to help but I didn’t stop to even think about where I was going to end up in the process. 

I felt the blade of my sword sinking into something, and warmth started to flow down my arm. Jade made a strangled noise as she fell on me completely limp and pinning me underneath her. The warmth I had felt only seemed to grow as I lay there, then I realized the pain I was in, and was starting to wonder if I was bleeding or her. 

“Raine!” I heard the shout, but I couldn't tell who was shouting my name. I thought I saw something large and black move in the little vision I had, and then leave again in the same moment. 

I started to shove at Jade's body as hard as I could, until the pain from my right arm stopped me in my tracks. It shot up from my shoulder into my wrist, and I let both of my arms quickly drop. Then I felt the pain that radiate throughout my body, everywhere all at once. There was a swelling pain in my chest, and my right leg. 

I ground my teeth together before biting down on my cheek to keep from crying out in pain. I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, and I started to take in harsh breaths from the agony I felt. I seriously, needed to come up with better ideas after this. I started trying to find a way out, and saw only fur and trees, with a bit of blue sky. 

‘s**t, s**t, shit.’ I thought rapidly, squeezing my eyes shut. ‘Not good.’

When I opened my eyes again, Dolphus and Eyloff had appeared in my vision. Jade's dead body was being lifted off of me, and then Lupus stood above me bloodied and beaten, but in his human form with clothes. Dolphus came back, smiling weakly down at me before then lifting me and moving me off to the side. I heard the thump of Jade's dead body being tossed away. 

When I looked around I saw Tom glaring down at me. Yeah he was pissed off at me for what I did, but I bet he was happier that I was still alive. Hell, I was happy that I was still alive. I wanted to get up and shout my happiness, but I could barely breathe.

Sitting up as slowly as I could manage, I winced a few times from the pain in my arm. There was probably a really bad bruise or cracked rib in my chest, but it didn't hurt that bad now. I could ignore it actually. “Saphire, where is she?” It was the first thing out of my mouth, and I got some weird looks for it, but I didn't care. I wanted to know, and I damn well was going to be told. 

“I’m here,” I saw her limp over to me, her left arm dangling uselessly at her side. You could barely see her skin under all the blood she was covered in, but I was glad to see her alive. “You saved me, why would you, why would you risk yourself like that?” Shaking her head, she smiled at me slowly. 

“Because, you were hurt, and Anna needs you, and Jade would’ve killed you.” I told her before looking over at Anna, who was now next to her mother hugging her leg without hurting her. 

“I-” Saphire looked at me with a look that I wasn't sure how to describe. It was sadness, mixed with happiness. I was going to hope it was happiness though, more than anything. “Thank you; you don’t know how grateful I am.”

I nodded my head slowly, unsure of what to say. I looked over watching as Lupus walks up to her, fully clothed and covered in blood with visible bruises on his face and arms. He lightly tapped her arm and then apologized when she turned, hissing in pain. 

“General, if you don’t mind,” Lupus licked his cracked lips, and swallowed before he continued. “I’m going to stay back, help them; they need it right now.” 

“Oh no! I don’t ne-” Saphire started, and then she cringed away from Lupus due to the look he was giving her. 

“Your arm is broken. That's clearly visible. You've got slashes from head to toe; you can barely walk on your right leg. You need it.” He sighed deeply, shaking his head at her before he looked over at Anna, nodding towards her. “At least take the help until you heal and can take care of your child.” 

Eyloff looked like he was having a battle with himself, then it changed to looking as if he was about to burst at the seams. It was like he wanted to drag Lupus away, kicking and screaming if he had to, and leave them on their own. Instead, he only nodded his head and looked away. “Fine.” 

Anna looked up at Lupus with a wide eyed stare, and then to her mother. Saphire only nodded to him as he leaned down and ripped a shirt from a dead body that was so mangled you couldn't tell what they'd looked like before. 

Examining it for a long moment as if making sure it was clean, he then started to shred it and looked back at Saphire. She recoiled a bit, and he laughed at her before walking back to her and saying something I couldn't even hear. 

“We need to get to the stables. They're not far, and we can mend better there.” Eyloff announced, looking to Tom. “Can you walk?” I noticed that his gaze had turned, and he was looking straight at me. 

“Yes I believe so.” I muttered knowing he could hear me. I started to push myself up slowly. Dolphus put an arm underneath mine to help steady me; I looked down and saw the white linen of his shirt had started to turn to a deep crimson color from a cut I hadn't even noticed.

He smiled tightly at me, there was blood smeared all over his face, along with s***h's that seemed to be already healing. If it wasn't for the fact that I was grateful for the help, I'd probably run from him, he looked a little too scary at that moment. 

“How far exactly?” I turned my head, looking at Tom as he asked the question. 

“Not far, once we’re out of these trees you’ll be able to see it.” Felan rolled her eyes as she said it. I saw Tom glare at her, then nod his head; those two were never going to get along.