Alone

Chapter 6

                                                                                             William

    The carriage pulls up to the Moreau estate as the sun lay high in the sky. I fidget with my family crest ring on my right index finger and the one that laid round my neck. With the haste I had left last night I had forgotten them.

    As I exit the carriage my fidgeting grows worse. I walk up the steps, I can feel sweat rolling down my back. Before I reach the entryway, the doors begin to open. On the other side stands a glowing Anna, as beautiful as ever in a pink silk dress with little, white flowers all along the bodice. Her cheeks look a bit pink and I wonder if she is all right.

                                                                                                   ~

                                                                                                Anna

    I had seen his carriage pulling up to my house as I was getting ready upstairs for luncheon. I had begun to wonder if he would ever come back. I ran to my mirror to inspect my outfit and ran down the stairs. I was out of breath by the time I reached the entryway. I could see his distorted image through the door window, ascending the steps outside. Before he could knock on the door, I swing it open. I feel a heat pool in my belly as soon as I get a better look at him. His sandy hair was standing on end, his cloths immaculate, but his eyes had a like red tint as if he had been crying. He was also fidgeting with a ring on his right index finger. I hadn’t noticed it before. My eyes notice movement a little lower. Realizing I am staring, I quickly raise my eyes to his face. His eyes hold a mine, and slowly a smile begins to spread on his face.

    “Good afternoon Miss Moreau,” he says with a husky undertone. I continue to stare at him and I wonder what it is about him that makes me feel this way. Why his eyes captivate me, why his lips look so soft, why his arms look like they could protect me from everything that could harm me. “Miss Moreau? Are you feeling well?”

    I just from the intrusion. “Of course. I apologize. Good afternoon, Sir Nowak. I trust you had a good night’s sleep. And please call me Anna.” I say as I lead him to our parlor. I gesture to the a seat across my own, as I adjust my skirts around me.

    He seems hesitant, sitting quickly, seeming almost worried about something. “Anna, I wanted to apologize about what I said last night. I did not mean to inform you about my family’s deaths so soon. It’s just I have been so alone for so long I wanted to tell you everything about my life. I wanted you to know me.” He seems to deflate after his declaration. Almost as if he expected me to reject hi-. I realize then that, that is exactly what he expected. I look into his eyes and I see a sadness as before. Who has hurt him so? I wish I could take that pain away.

    “There is nothing to apologize for. I am actually very glad that you told me.” I hesitate, my breathe begins to grow shallow. “I lost my parents when I was seven years old.” I grow quiet, contemplating whether or not I should continue. William stays quiet almost as if he understood. “It had been a rather warm September night. My mother had put me to bed hours ago but I could not sleep. I heard something, almost like something hitting the floor. I remember making my way to my parents room. The door was opened a crack. I saw the room was in disarray. It looked like a storm had came through. Chairs, end tables, and bed sheets shredded. Then I heard a whimper. I looked in the direction of the doors leading to the balcony. What looked like the sky was moving, until I realized it wasn’t the sky, it was something black and big. I couldn’t tell at first what it was, then it stepped into the light and then I noticed the fur. It was standing on two feet. It turned its head as if it could hear something. It had the face of a wolf.” William gasps, but I continue. “It had a white strip running down its muscular neck, onto its chest. I was so distracted by it that I didn’t notice my mother at it’s feet. She wasn’t moving, and she was covered in blood. I must have made a sound because it turned my way. I froze and I remember feeling like my world was turned upside down. Everything I had ever I was ever told was incorrect. There were monsters out there. And nothing would ever be the same. I thought he was going to go after me, but instead he turned and jumped out the window. I don’t know how long I sat there, but the next thing I know my maid is running to me and screaming for help. It wasn’t till a couple days later that I was informed my father had perished as well. A werewolf killed my parents, and no one has believed me. Do you…. Do you believe me, William?” I ask hesitantly.

    He’s silent for a couple of moments, not looking at me. He’s still as a statue, and he looks sick.

    All of a sudden, he springs up and kneels right in front of me. He looks straight into my eyes, “I do believe you, Anna.” His voice begins to shake, as if what he is about to tell me a dark secret. I grow cautious, I have a feeling that whatever he is about to say was going to change how I look at him. “I also believe werewolves exist, because I come from a long line of Lycans." I sit in silence, not fully comprehending what he has just revealed to me. 

    "Anna, I am a werewolf.”