“Curtis is outside. And they need more wolves there. She wants you to communicate this to Anthony, and the others. Send out some wolves out there. I will talk to Yodah.” Derek heard Freya say and immediately did as his cousin requested, passing the information to Anthony, who in turn gave the order that the wolves in the room should thin out to the outside, since they were almost done killing off the opposers in the hall. The vampires have been of great help.
He also watched as Yodah shifted into a tiny bird, flying out of the hall to the outside atmosphere. He would continue his work out there.
“Thank you.” He said to Freya, who nodded in her mist form, still by his side.
Watching around the hall, he noticed that most of the mages were dead, many of the opposing werewolves too. None of his, to his joy, just a few wounded.
They were winning the battle.
“You must be feeling good, right? Having the vampires by your side?”
Derek heard from within him and jerked to a halt.
“Surprised?? Hahahahaha… you shouldn’t be. There is blood everywhere.” The beast said, even as Maru grunted.
“And as you know, I love blood. Even your wolf can’t stop me if I take control of him.” It continued, and Derek immediately called out to Anthony, even as the head of the opposers turned to him. It was a duel. He didn’t need the interference of this stupid beast now.
“What is the problem?” Anthony asked frantically, taking note of the plea in Derek’s voice killing off the last opposing wolf standing. Aiden was back to the ground in his physical form. Freya too, was out of the misty nature. She was still beside Derek.
“The beast…” Derek started. “The beast is out.” He said, feeling his gut twitch in pain.
“It wants to take over.” He screamed, falling on his limbs, groaning and grunting, howling at one point.
“Are you okay?” He heard his mother’s worried voice faintly in his head, but kept mute. She already knew he was not okay.
“I told you. But you never listened. Now, you might put the whole pack in jeopardy. Is Anthony there?” He heard his father ask, and kept quiet. He didn’t feel like talking to them, or rather the beast didn’t want to talk with them. It was taking control of his mind.
“Derek…” He heard Freya’s call faintly.
They should stop calling him. He thought, raising up his head to stare at the opposing wolf who was looking at him in bewilderment.
The dude must be wondering what is going on with him. He thought, standing up again on his limbs, feeling better or so he thought.
He tried advancing towards the opposing werewolf, but found out angrily that he was turning aside, walking stealthily towards Anthony.
The beast was in control!
And sadly, he could watch its action, like a bystander. He didn’t know which one was sadder, the fact that he had turned against his people, or the fact that he still held rein over his emotions and would feel every betrayal he melted on them, though unwillfully.
The opposing werewolf shifted back to his physical self, bare but only for a pair of brown shorts, his face an artifact of surprise and shock.
What the hell was happening?! He thought, confused, though happy.
Around him, he noticed that the werewolves were shifting to the physical selves, sadness and gloom persistent on their faces, including the one the Derek was moving towards, in attack.
Is the boy stupid? He thought, referring to Anthony who had just shifted to his physical self. He was bare too, except for a pair of white khaki shorts. Maya was adorned in a plain brown gown.
Part of their wolf benefits was that they could, before their transformation, pick up a cloth to wear in their minds if they were fast enough, before changing. It was hectic and draining, but beneficial and necessary in times like this.
The opposing werewolf watched with wide eyes, forgetting that he was the only one of his group standing tall when he saw Anthony yield a ball of luminous flame out of his hands. He watched too as Derek took a few steps back away from the flame.
What the hell was happening? He thought. His master never mentioned any of this part. How could a werewolf yield a ball of blue fire? Was he a hybrid like one of his Alpha’s sons? And what was wrong with Derek?
Beside him, he noticed that a witch was struggling to live. He had heard her groan in pain. So, stealthily, subtly, he walked to her, aware that the others attention was duly focused on the spectacle right in front of them.
“What is happening?” He asked, bending down, so he could hear what the witch would say.
“What is happening to him?” He asked, considerate enough to be specific.
“He was possessed by the Alferic beast. The other has the power to subdue it at will, but my Queen had given each of us something to throw on him to avoid his power from working.” The witch croaked out, her eyes opening and closing intermittently. She was near death.
“And what is that?” He asked, peering down at her face.
“Here, in my waistband.” The witch replied, stirring a bit, biting her lips as pain assailed her body by that single movement.
The werewolf checked it out, gnashing his teeth in pain when he attempted to take the substance out.
Silver!
“What the hell! Didn’t you think you should have given me a heads-up before letting me touch silver?” He whispered harshly, feeling like slapping the witch to death.
What had been her plan? Had she planned to kill him, knowing that she would die? Had Leonarya planned to kill them off, after they had captured the girl, seeing that she had strapped all her servants with silver belts?
“I forgot. There is no way then.” He heard the witch say, and scoffed, watching her gleefully as she breathed out her last.