The Beast of the Briar Woods

Chapter Two. Consequences

“remember, you may choose your sin

but you cannot choose the consequences”

jenny sanford

“I have known many names,” the old woman began as we walked through the dark forest. “Gyre-Carling, Nicnevin, Nimue, but names do not mean much when you’ve lived through several lifetimes. There’s no one to remember who you are. I find that it isn’t a name that makes a person, but rather, what they do with their lives.”

“And what have you done… in your long life here?” I asked carefully. Some of the names she mentioned were familiar to me, and I had a feeling I knew who she really was. But I also wanted to know what she wanted from me. Creatures like her always wanted something in return.

The old woman smiled that secret smile again. “Why, I’ve helped people like you, of course,” she replied. “People who are lost. People with no other options.”

“So you’re a martyr,” I drawled sarcastically. “You help people out of the goodness of your heart. How sweet.”

“Oh, I help them, sweetheart, but I didn’t say it was for free. There are always consequences,” the old woman replied, wagging her finger at me. I stopped walking at her words, my suspicions confirmed.

“You’re a witch.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. I wanted to see if I was correct, but I was also worried about what she would do when she realized I knew the truth.

To my surprise, she simply smiled at me again. “Smart child. What gave it away?” she asked.

“Your names- I’ve heard them before. I remember them from when elders would tell the children of our pack the stories about a fairy witch,” I replied. “And these woods – the dark woods. They used to recite a rhyme about it:

“Tread carefully through the dark woods

Where the unseelie courts once stood

For here only death awaits

In the arms of boggarts and wraiths

The gates of hel open to those-”

“With rotting core and evil souls?” the witch finished with a laugh. “Yes, that was quite dramatic, and nothing I haven’t heard before. But surely you don’t think you are with a rotting core and an evil soul?”

The question made me stop walking. I hadn’t thought about that part, but maybe, maybe some part of that was true. “Maybe, maybe I am cursed,” I murmured quietly, thinking about all my bad experiences and, well, rotten luck. “Is that why you chose me?”

To my surprise, the witch laughed at me again. Only this time, she was really bent over laughing as if she’d heard the funniest joke in the world. “Oh, trust me love, you aren’t cursed. At least… not yet.”

I tensed, wondering if I’d just been threatened. Come to think of it, I hadn’t relaxed since the moment I ran into Nimue. I had to keep my guard up and be alert. I couldn’t trust her.

“Well, you can trust that I mean you no harm, unlike the wolves chasing you,” Nimue replied, as if reading my thoughts. She just smirked at my astounded expression. “I can sense your anxiety. It’s rolling off of you in waves. You should know, I won’t do anything to you unless it is a result of your choice. I’m simply here to give you an offer- and you can take it or leave it.”

At this, Nimue finally fell silent, leaving the decision up to me. I knew I could’ve turned her down right then and there. But a part of me was curious. After all, she did say I would have the choice of whether or not to turn down her offer. There didn’t seem to be any harm in knowing what she had in mind. I was curious about the alternative.

“What, exactly, is it you’re offering?” I finally replied.

That secret smile appeared on her face again. “Why dear, the solution to your problem! It is quite simple, isn’t it? I can make you the strongest werewolf to roam these lands. That way, you’ll never need a pack again.”

The air seemed to leave my lungs as I heard her offer. It wasn’t that I would be free of a pack. I always had that option. But to be the strongest? And to not be afraid? That was not so easily achievable. Nimue smiled, seeming to sense the internal battle raging inside of me.

Wait, I wanted to say. Let me think about this. This is a life-changing decision.

But where would I think? How would I decide? It seemed like I didn’t really have a choice now that I couldn’t go back to the pack, and the other wolves were hunting me. “My offer won’t last forever, you know,” she suddenly spoke up.

She walked towards a large boulder and plopped down onto the rock, examining her fingernails. “You have to decide here. Now.”

“You haven’t given all the details,” I pointed out, trying to buy myself some time. “What will you take in exchange for giving me my freedom?”

Again, she laughed at my question, and I knew she was just toying with me. I was her entertainment. Her plaything. I was right where she wanted me. “You believe in stories too much. I don’t require any sort of payment – not that you have anything to offer me, anyway. But, as I said, this power also comes with a terrible price.”

“Name the price,” I ground out, growing tired and impatient with her games.

Her eyes narrowed slightly at my tone, but the smile stayed on her lips. “If you choose to be the most powerful werewolf in the lands,” she muttered, rising from her seat and walking towards me, “you must give up one thing in return: love. Once you embrace your newfound power, you won’t be able to fall in love.”

The witch was standing right in front of me now, her shrewd eyes staring into my own. She pushed a stray strand of my hair aside – the tendrils had escaped during my mad dash through the woods.

“What do you mean, I won’t be able to fall in love?” I asked, hoping to clarify and get all the information I needed.

Like I said, it was a life-changing decision.

“You will not be able to express love to another person. You won’t be able to tell another soul you care for them,” the witch whispered as she circled me once more, still playing with my hair. “You. Will. Be. Alone,” she enunciated each word.

The word alone seemed to echo in my mind. My wolf snarled, not liking the proximity of the witch nor the deal she offered. But I had to think twice about it. Like I said, my wolf wasn’t known for making smart decisions, but then again, neither was I.

“Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? No pack meddling in your business. No Alpha or other wolves telling you what to do just because they’re stronger or bigger than you?” Nimue asked from behind me, her voice once again taking on that sing-song quality. “Don’t you want to be alone? Free?”

I couldn’t respond. The way she said it sounded enticing. True, I would be able to make my own choices. No one would bother me. No one would challenge me. I would be my own Alpha… on my own.

Nimue finished circling me and stood before me with that secret smile resting on her face. “Well, Elara, what will it be?”