Willow: The Shape of Fate

Hurts Don't Lie

"Tyla!"

I screamed when the body came into view, my voice shattered the silence like a blistering glass.

The were-woman before me didn't flinch, her expression was frozen cold.

The only sign of life was her eyes, burning with an intense red fire that seemed to pierce my very soul.

"What the... you scared me." I rasped out, doubling over to catch a breath.

Tyla's gaze remained stoic and unbent about my situation.

The redness in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a piercing green that still seethed with hostility.

Then I noticed it, she took a slow deliberate step forward.

The air seemed to thicken, heavy with the weight of unspoken threats.

I felt my heart racing, while my legs began to tremble like leaves in a hurricane.

She came closer, another step and another, each one measured and calculated.

My eyes were frozen on her advancing form, whilst my mind was paralyzed with fear.

"Tyla, listen,"

I spoke again, ignoring how my voice trembled while I backed away with my hands raised in a calming gesture.

"So, what are you now?" she asked with a firm voice.

I remained silent, my eyes pleading unknowingly.

"The heroine?"

"You wanted my brother dead so you could replace him. Incredible skills you showed up there." She gestured to the tower I was at.

"Was this the plan all along?" Tyla pressed.

I stepped back, hands raised in plea,

"Tyla, listen— I know you lost your brother.."

"Enough!" She yelled

"You have no right to speak of him!" she yelled her lungs at me.

I swallowed hard, fear was evident on my features and I knew I had to leave.

"Tyla, please... I need to go. Sorry."

I turned on my heels and made to leave

"You don't walk out on me!"

Her authoritative tone stopped me on my tracks.

Inhaling sharply, I turned and prepaid my self for whatever mockery she had for today.

Tyla came closer to me again, but I did what I knew best, back away.

"You think you can just leave after what you've done?"

"You wanted my brother dead, now you're here in the tower where he was assigned, playing the savior."

My head jerked up, shock etched on my face.

"Tyla, that's not true?" I retorted instantly

She let out a laughter laced with sarcasm.

"You witch! You planned to take everything from me!" I recoiled from where I stood.

"You were supposed to save us, but no, you waited until those bloodsuckers took my mate and brother!"

At the mention of her mate, I gasped, eyes wide.

"Tyla... I, I had no idea." I pleaded

Before I could say jack, Tyla's sobs filled the air.

"The goddess blessed you with alpha blood, a lifeline... but I got nothing.

Your uselessness took away my only consolation."

"Tyla, I—" Again I went mute.

"If only you'd morphed into your wolf, I'd still have Brian," she sobbed louder.

Brian. My cousin. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

"I-I'm sorry, Tyla. I never knew he was yours..."

"Is that an excuse?" Tyla rose, eyes blazing.

"Tyla, please, we both lost someone..."

"Our losses are different!" she yelled, pacing.

I retreated, two steps back.

"You have a family," Tyla spat, her finger jabbing at me.

"A brother and parents who care for you. My parents died protecting this pack."

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"For years, I was depressed, and just when I began to find happiness again, your father...he sent my brother to his early grave."

Her voice cracked

"And Brian...my mate, my everything. He was taken from me too. All because of your uselessness."

Tyla's face contorted in anguish, her hands slapping against her face as tears poured out.

I stood frozen, my eyes misting over.

I couldn't comfort her, couldn't find the words.

Every fiber of me wanted to curse the goddess for this cruel destiny.

This people's hope of ever being saved from these cruel vampires was me.

My heart stung, confined within my ribcage.

I took hard breaths, fighting back tears.

"You've lost nothing!"

"You still have everything, while I've lost everyone I love." She concluded with heavy sobs.

I knew I had to leave, but my legs felt rooted to the earth

"I'm, I'm very sorry, Tyla," I muttered with my head bowed, before turning to leave.

I couldn't shake off the guilt, I needed to find Jeremy or Mom, someone to help her.

I marched faster until I reached the last building, I turned back to promise Tyla that someone would come for her.

But she was gone.

Panic set in, my eyes scanned the area frantically.

Then it happened.

Something hard slammed into me, sending me flying.

I landed on a trunk, gasping for breath.

My arm burned, my vision blurred, but I fought to stay conscious.

When my eyes opened, Tyla stood over me, her face twisted in rage.

"Ty...ouchh." I tried to speak, but searing pain cut me off.

My rib cage was torn open, her bloodied claws evidence of her fury.

"Pay me back...more brutally...when you see me again," Tyla spat.

Then Tyla turned and vanished into darkness.

I layed there, in a pool of my own blood and watched her leave.

"I'm so sorry, Brian," I whispered into the void. Hoping my cousin would hear me.

*****************

The morning light sliced through my window, piercing my eyelids and amplifying the agony that gripped my ribs.

Sleep had evaded me, haunted by Tyla's anguished face and the memories of her claws ripping into my flesh.

I dragged myself out of bed, each movement a torturous jolt.

The mirror reflected a gruesome reality when I appeared before it, all I could see was a jagged, raw wound that seemed to mock me.

"What the hell Tyla?" I whispered, horror etched on my face.

"Get it treated, now! Or else it will kill you." A voice from within spoke audibly

But fear held me back.

I wondered about my answer in thoughts.

"Mom, Dad, or Uncle Malcolm will find out and that trouble will be worse."

The voice shot back,

"Self-pity won't heal you. You need stitches, antibiotics. Don't be stupid."

I glared at my reflection hoping to see the person who's speaking to me.

"Help me awaken my wolf, and I'll heal in hours."

Silence.

As always, the voice vanished at the mention of my wolf.

With a reluctant sigh, I acknowledged reality.

No more procrastination. Infection loomed, and I needed help.

I wrapped a makeshift bandage around the wound, wincing in pain, and donned a huge hoody to conceal it.

Unable to stand straight, I moved swiftly.

With quick glances, I exited my room and made for the main door.

Outside, I began the 20-minute trek to the infirmary, keeping my head lowered.

Stares followed me, but I ignored them. Not today.

After the long, painful walk, I slipped into the infirmary.

The admin hallway bustled with activity, filled with antiseptic, bandages, and newborn scents.

Voices hummed in the background – laughter, whispers, and occasional cries.

Scanning the area, I spotted Aunty Mea.

"Aunty Mea!" I called softly, avoiding strain on my wound.

Mea looked up, her eyes scanning until they met mine.

A warm smile spread across her face.

"Willow, sweetheart! Come here, child!"

I navigated through the crowded room, dodging stretchers and equipment.

Reaching her space, I found it empty – no patients yet.

Aunty Mea opened her arms for a hug, but I winced away, unable to hide my pain.

She understood, her expression turning serious.

"Come here, let me take a look," she said, leading me to a quiet corner.

I unzipped the hoodie and removed the makeshift bandage.

"Good goddess!" Aunty Mea exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.

"This wound is a mess, child!" I offered her a sheepish smile and a nod.

"Your folks shouldn't see this," she whispered, shaking her head.

"They'd have a fit!"

I nodded, my eyes cast down.

"I'm just so tired of all the fussing and fighting, Aunty Mea."

Knowing my frustrations, Mea's face softened as she prepared her medical supplies.

"Sweetie, you know you can tell me anything," she said, administering a numbing injection.

"Who did this to you?" She asked without looking up from my wound.

As she began stitching, I sighed, shoulders sagging.

"I'd love to tell you Aunty, but it doesn't matter anymore...she's gone."

Aunty Mea's hands paused, her eyes filled with concern.

"Gone?" she repeated, her voice gentle.

I nodded, fighting back tears at the remembrance of Tyla.

Aunty Mea looked up, her eyes filled with understanding, she gave a soft nod.

"They will find her, and she will be okay, Willow."

I nodded, trusting her intuition.

Aunty Mea knew many secrets, so it was, because she had some mini seeing abilities, I'd say.

Her tight-lipped smile reassured me as she returned to stitching my wound.

I couldn't help but ask,

"What if , what if I fail all of you?" I asked, trying harder to swallow the bile in my throat.

Mea's gaze softened, her smile became warm and comforting.

"Willow, I was there… and I'm sure you'll become your true self someday. But none of us can say more until the time is right. You must find your way by yourself."

She stood, hands on my shoulders, with eyes locked on mine.

Glancing out the window to ensure we were alone, she leaned in, her voice barely audible.

"But I can give you a tidbit,"

Aunty Mea whispered.

"Uli will return, and when she does, everything will change."

My curiosity piqued at the mention of that name.

"Uli? You know her?" I questioned

Mea nodded

"I knew her...a little." She giggled.

"She was a powerful force, a pure breed made by Mené." My brows furrowed in anticipation.

"Why ask?" Mea questioned, while her pen hovered over the prescription pad.

My voice dropped, eyes darting around the hall.

"There's this voice in my head, when I'm alone it speaks to me."

"And sometimes, when I face the mirror, I see a shadowy figure lurking behind me."

Mea's pen slipped, she looked up at me with curiosity.

"Tell me more," she urged, her voice went low with urgency.

"It's like someone's standing right behind me, but when I turn around, there's no one," I rushed on.

"The voice...it whispers senseless things and most times it speaks parables."

Aunty Mea leaned forward.

"Is the voice male or female?"

"It's hard to describe," I said, frustration etched on my face.

"The voice sounds like a woman sometimes, but other times it's deep and husky, like a man."

Aunty Mea's eyes sparkled.

"Could it be Uli?" She asked amidst smiles

"I don't know, Aunty. That's one of the names I hear the voice mention."

I answered with a bored tone.

Aunty Mea smiled, anticipation shining in her eyes.

"Thank the goddess! Listen, I know an ancient text that can help."

She handed me a paper with a title scribbled on it.

"Find this book, make sure no one knows."

At this point, I felt frustrated.

"Aunty Mea, I'm tired of searching. This research is driving me mad."

"Willow, hearing Uli's name means there's more to this." She answered sternly

"I know you know more, Why can't you just tell me?" I pleaded

Aunty Mea's gaze bored into my soul, weighing the risks.

Then she began

"Willow, the text you will…" she stopped immediately when her eyes met someone behind me.

When I turned, my mother, the Luna, stood in the doorway.

The air vibrated with tension.

Aunty Mea's smile vanished, she immediately bowed her head.

"I don't know much," she whispered to me with fear in her eyes.

"Is that so?" Mom questioned angrily

"MaryJane, this conversation will be the reason your head rolls off your shoulder tonight."

At her words, I froze.