The first Transformation
800 Words
The palace celebrated long after sunset.
Music echoed through the grand halls.
Crystal glasses clinked together.
Nobles laughed as they discussed Prince Lucien's future wedding to Lady Seraphina Ravenshade.
Only one person wasn't celebrating.
Lucien.
He stood alone on the highest palace balcony, staring at the full moon.
His chest felt... strange.
Heavy.
Almost as if something inside him was waking.
A cold breeze swept through the courtyard.
His fingers twitched.
He frowned.
Not tonight...
For seventeen years, nothing had happened.
The curse had remained only a story whispered by his parents and a handful of trusted advisors.
Maybe...
Maybe the spirit had lied.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Your Highness?"
It was Captain Rowan, commander of the royal guard.
"The king wishes to announce your engagement publicly."
Lucien forced a smile.
"I'll be there."
As Rowan walked away, Lucien glanced at the moon once more.
It looked...
Bluer.
---
Far below the palace...
Elara scrubbed the kitchen floor with sore hands.
Another servant laughed.
"You looked at the prince today."
Elara nearly dropped her brush.
"I did not!"
"You did."
"It was only for a second."
The older women giggled.
"Careful."
"They say noble ladies fall in love with him after one glance."
"I'm not a noble lady."
"No."
"But your cheeks are certainly red."
Elara buried her face in embarrassment.
"I was only thanking him."
The women laughed louder.
Just then...
Pain shot through her left wrist.
She gasped.
The strange blue mark hidden beneath her sleeve burned like fire.
"What is that?"
Before anyone noticed, she pulled the sleeve down.
"N-Nothing."
The pain disappeared.
But somewhere beyond the palace walls...
Something had felt it.
---
The royal ballroom glittered beneath hundreds of chandeliers.
King Alaric raised his glass.
"Tonight, we celebrate the future of Arvendor!"
Thunderous applause erupted.
Lady Seraphina stepped forward.
She was breathtaking.
Long silver-blonde hair.
Emerald silk gown.
Perfect posture.
Every movement elegant.
She smiled at Lucien.
"I've heard so much about you."
"So have I."
She studied him carefully.
"You don't seem happy."
Lucien hesitated.
"I hardly know you."
She chuckled softly.
"Neither do I."
"Perhaps that's what marriage among royals is."
For the first time that evening...
Lucien smiled genuinely.
Maybe she wasn't as terrible as he expected.
Then—
The palace clock struck midnight.
One.
Two.
Three.
By the twelfth bell...
Agony exploded through Lucien's body.
His smile vanished.
His knees buckled.
"Your Highness?"
Seraphina reached toward him.
"Don't touch me!"
Everyone froze.
Lucien staggered backward.
His breathing became ragged.
His vision blurred.
The chandeliers flickered.
A low growl escaped his throat.
No...
Not his throat.
Something deeper.
Something ancient.
King Alaric's face drained of color.
"No..."
He knew.
The curse.
It had begun.
"Everyone leave!"
The king's voice shook the ballroom.
Now.
The guests stared in confusion.
"My king—"
"LEAVE!"
Panic spread instantly.
Nobles rushed toward the exits.
Servants screamed.
Lucien collapsed onto the marble floor.
Bones cracked.
His fingers stretched unnaturally.
His fingernails sharpened into claws.
"No..."
He grabbed his head.
"Help me..."
His voice broke into a terrifying growl.
Golden hair darkened.
Emerald eyes glowed electric blue.
The royal guards instinctively drew their swords.
King Alaric roared,
"Put those weapons away!"
"It's still my son!"
Lucien screamed.
The sound echoed through every hallway.
Then...
Silence.
When he stood again...
He was no longer human.
Towering.
Covered in midnight-black fur streaked with glowing blue patterns.
Massive claws scraped the marble floor.
His eyes still held traces of Lucien...
Filled with fear.
Filled with confusion.
Then instinct took over.
The beast roared.
The palace windows shattered.
With one impossible leap...
He crashed through the stained-glass ceiling and disappeared into the night.
---
Deep inside the Moonshadow Forest...
Animals fled in terror.
Birds burst into the sky.
The monstrous wolf raced between ancient trees faster than any horse.
He wasn't hunting.
He was running.
Running from himself.
Running from the people he loved.
Running from the curse.
Suddenly—
He caught a scent.
Human.
Weak.
Afraid.
The beast froze.
Ahead, hidden among the trees...
Elara stood clutching a basket of herbs.
She had sneaked into the forest to gather healing plants for the palace kitchens.
She slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
The monster expected her to scream.
To run.
To fear him.
Instead...
She whispered,
"You look..."
Her voice trembled.
"...lonely."
The beast's glowing blue eyes widened.
For the first time since the curse awakened...
It didn't feel rage.
It felt...
Peace.
But before another moment could pass—
A black arrow flew through the darkness.
It struck the beast's shoulder.
A cruel laugh echoed through the forest.
"So..."
"They found each other."
Figures cloaked in black stepped out from between the trees, their faces hidden beneath silver masks marked with a crescent moon.
"The prophecy has begun."
- Writer
