Dreadfang Cursed Heir

Chapter 2

CELINE’S POV.

“What do you mean Ma Agatha, what dark fate, you are scaring me!”

It cannot get worse than this, I could not believe what I was hearing. This is something that was not supposed to be kept away from me for all those years, I had the right to know.

“I don’t know how to put it darling,”

“Just tell me already, you have been hiding such a sensitive thing from me for all these years and now you don’t know how to put it! Just spill it already.” I groan, with my eyebrows drawn together.

“You…you are the last descendant of a very powerful and feared werewolf pack.” She admits her voice above a whisper. “ And I kept it a secret because I wanted to protect you dear, but I should have prepared you for it. You also have a curse, the same one that drove your parents mad, and I have been working day and night to find the cure and break the curse, but I have not found anything yet but I will. I promise I will always protect you my darling.”

Her words were like a knife stabbing my heart, it is worse than I imagined. How will I live now? So many questions pilled up in my mind. And I have no one to question, nor no one to answer me, no family no one. Except someone I trust and love who kept my identity away from me in the name of protection for 20 f*****g years. I sit there in silence, trying to digest everything. Every part of me is black for a moment, I cannot stop my palms from sweating or fidgeting my feet nor chewing my checks.

“I need to be alone Ma Agatha!” I yell, with my breathy voice.

“I will let you be dear; read the book I have given you I’m sure some of your questions will be answered.” She says quietly as she leave. Tears roll down my cheecks uncontrollably. I go and stand in front of the mirror, and my eyes are glowing. Who am I, what am I, I can’t stop questioning myself? I open the book and I start reading, and everything Madame Agatha said as much as I wanted it to be a lie, it was the absolute truth and my new reality.

It is not getting any better, there is a prophecy too tied to my bloodline. The last descendant of my pack will either bring destruction or salvation, and all the strange things that has been happening the dreams and the strange feelings is just the beginning of my transformation. I can’t know anything else today, this is too much. I close the book, sit down and meditate. But even that doesn’t work. I can’t shake off my fear and confusion.

I can’t stop myself from hearing and smelling everyone and everything. I decide to sleep because it’s the only way to shut everything off. I close my eyes and fall asleep, but even in my dreams they are haunting me, the dreams, vague and disjointed. Flashes of forests under the moonlight, the sound of howling in the distance, the feeling of something powerful watching me, I hear a voice low and echoing calling my name. I try to make out the words, and figure out what or who is calling me but I can’t. I wake up my heart beating so fast, and a cold sweat clinging on my skin.

The acknowledgment and reality hit me like a punch in the gut. I'm not only an outcast in the village I'm something undeniably more dangerous , something they fear and hate. The signs have been there from the beginning; however, I have never understood them, never known reality of who or what I truly am. Today it’s generally going to change and I'm not prepared for whatever accompanies it. I sitted there on my bed, scared of going out or somebody to see me.

The day of my 21st starts like any other, however I can't shake the feeling of fear that sticks to me like a dim shadow. I lie in bed, gazing at the wooden roof, attempting to muster the strength to get up, however every instinct shout at me to remain stowed away. Everything feels to sharp, too distinctive the tweeting of birds outside is puncturing shriek in my ears, the fragrance of the earth and blossoms floating through the open window is so strong it almost chokes me, and my own pulse roars in my chest like a drum.

I press my eyes shut, willing the sensations to dull, however they just escalate. Maybe my body is fully on guard, each sense dialed up to the most extreme, and its staggeringly overwhelming. More terrible still, is the fear bothering the edge of my mind the fear that people will recognize the truth about me, they will see me for the beast I'm becoming. In any case, I can't stay here forever, I need to get up need to confront the day, regardless of how much I want to creep back under the covers and hide away.

It’s my birthday after all, and the whole town is anticipating that I should participate in the festivals. I push myself up, my limbs weighty with hesitance, and I start to dress slowly, trying to overlook how my garments feel excessively tight, and excessively scratchy against my skin. Finally, when I at long last step outside, the splendid daylight almost blinds me and I need to protect my eyes. The town is now clamoring with exercises, everybody planning for the harvest festival celebration. Children are running about, and their hitched chuckling grinding in my nerves, and the smell of broiling meat and new bread make me feel sick as opposed to spark my appetite.

I hesitate at the edge of my doorstep, fighting the urge to retreat back into the safety of my cottage. What if someone notices how strange I’m acting? What if they see the monster lurking beneath my skin? I can’t let them see, can’t let them know. Just when I’m about to turn my back inside, Lilly appears, beaming at me with her usual bright energy. She is carrying a basket of flowers, her smile so warm and genuine that I can’t help but feel a little comforted. I hesitate at the edge of my doorstep, battling the desire to withdraw once again into the wellbeing of my cottage. What if somebody sees how unusual I'm acting. What if they see the beast hiding underneath my skin? I can't allow them to see, I can't let them know. Just when I'm about to turn my back inside, Lilly shows up, radiating at me with her typical brilliant energy. She is conveying a crate of blossoms, her grin so warm and veritable that I can't resist the urge to feel somewhat console.

“Happiest birthday, Celine!” she shouts, pulling me into a hug. I tense at the contact, the sudden rush of her scent and warmth making my head spin, but I force myself to relax, and to act normal.

“Thanks, Lilly,” I say my voice sounding empty to my own ears. “How does it feel to be 21?” she asks as she hands me a bouquet of wildflowers.

“It feels…. Different,” I admit, taking the flowers from her. “Everything feels different.”

“Maybe its just the excitement of the festival,” Lilly suggests, her tone light and reassuring. “You know how everyone gets around this time,”

“Yeah maybe,” I mumbled, though I know its something more than that. The unease that’s brewing inside me all morning is only growing stronger, and I can’t shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen. As we walk toward the village square, I catch sight of Harriet standing with her friends. My skin prickles with unease as she locks eyes with me, her lips curling into a sneer.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the birthday girl,” Harriet says, her voice dripping with toxin. “You must be so proud Celine. The whole village celebrating, and all for you. How special you must feel.”

I swallow hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m just trying to enjoy this day Harriet. f**k off!”

“Oh, I’m sure you are,” she replies, her eyes narrowing. “But not everyone is as thrilled as you are, I’m sure. After all, it must be nice having everyone fawn over you just because you are Madame Agatha’s daughter.” She quotes

Her words cut deep, but before I can say anything, Lilly steps forward glaring at Harriet. “ Leave her alone, you b***h. Its just a birthday and Celine, doesn’t need your attitude today. ”Harriet just laughs, flicking her dark brown hair over her shoulder.

“Whatever. Just don’t let it go to your head, Celine. Not everyone thinks you are special, and you are to me.” Lilly express, but If only she knew, what or who I really, I’m!

The mocking in her tone sends a shiver down my spine, and I feel the tension inside me coil tighter. My senses are picking up on every slight, every hint of malice in her voice, and it’s all I can do to keep myself from lashing out. Lilly grabs my arm, pulling me away. ”Come on, Celine. Let’s go help Mrs. Elara with the flowers.”

As we walk away, I can still feel Harriet’s eye on me, her mocking laughter ringing in my ears. Its like she knows, like she can sense the darkness inside me and it terrifies me, or maybe I’m over thinking I can’t really tell the difference now.

“You shouldn’t let her get to you,” Lilly says softly, her voice full of concern. “Harriet is just a bully, always has been.”

“I know,” I reply, my voice barely a whisper.

But its more than just Harriet, its this overwhelming fear that everyone can see what I’m becoming, that I’m losing control. The rest of the day is blur with activities. I go through the motions of helping with the decorations, but my mind is elsewhere, focusing on the growing unease inside me. Everything feels wrong; too loud, to bright, too much. As the sun sets, the village square becomes a glowing wonderland of lights and flowers, but all I can think about is escaping, hiding from everyone who might see the monster lurking beneath my skin.

At the evening celebration, its impossible to enjoy myself. The music is deafening, the lights blinding, and the press of people around me feels suffocating. I try to talk to Lilly, but she is swept up by the festivities, leaving me alone with my fear.

“Celine, are you okay?” Lilly asks when she finally notices my distress. “You look pale.”

“I just… I need some air,” I manage to say, my voice strained. Without waiting for a response, I push through the crowd, desperate to get away before I lose control completely. Harriet’s mocking voice follows me, but I can’t focus on the words, can’t focus on anything except the pounding in my head and heat coursing through my body.

I run from the village square, not caring where I’m going, just needing to get away. My breath comes in ragged gaps as I find myself deep in the forest. I don’t know how long I have been running, but the pounding in my head only grows louder with each step. My senses are still on overdrive, picking up every rustle in the trees, every snap of a twig, every faint scent on the breeze. Its overwhelming, suffocating, and I can’t escape it no matter how far I run. The moon above seems to grow brighter with each passing moment. Its light cutting through the darkness of the forest, bathing everything in an eerie, silver glow.

I finally stop, leaning against a tree as I struggle to catch my breath. My chest heaves with effort, and my legs feel like they could give out at any moment. But its not just exhaustion that weighs on me there’s something else, a gnawing sensation deep inside, something primal that I can’t control. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to will it away, but its no use. The transformation is coming, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

A sudden noise in the distance snaps me out of my thoughts. Footsteps. They are faint, but I can hear them approaching three, maybe four people, their voices carrying through the trees, panic flares in my chest. If they find me like this, if they see what I’m becoming….

I push away from the tree, trying to move further into the forest, but its too late. The voices draw closer, and soon I see them three men, stumbling through the woods with the careless swagger of those who have had too much to drink. They are laughing, their voices loud and obnoxious, cutting through the stillness of the night.

“Hey, look what we have got here,” one of them calls out as they spot me, his words slurred and thick with alcohol. “Isn’t she the birthday girl, the beautiful sexy outsider? What are you doing all alone in the woods, sweetheart?”

I tense, my heart racing as they approach. I try to back away, but my feet won’t move fast enough. My body feels heavy, sluggish, the transformation lurking just beneath the surface, waiting to break free.

“Come on now, don’t be shy,” another one of them says, his grin wide as he steps closer. “You should be out celebrating, not running around in the dark. We can keep you company; they are scary animals out here like them wolves.”

“I… I just want to be alone,” I manage to stammer, my voice trembling with fear. But they don’t stop, if anything, my words only seem to spur the on me.

“Aww, don’t be like that,” the third one says, his tone mocking as he reaches to to grab my arm. “ it’s your birthday, after all. We will show you a good time.”