Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

A Chapter by Jessica Fox

            I heard the high peals of laughter even before I made it to the front porch on the house. My neck felt tender where Lynx bit me, I cursed and stomped the snow off my shoes. Sounds like Amanda did not take long to bounce back from her dramatic scene earlier in the day.  I rolled my eyes at the second bout of laughter that exploded through the door.

            I stepped into the hallway kicking off my boots and caught the scent of something musty and the stink of wolf. I wrinkled my nose and followed the scent up the stairs to where the laughing was coming from. I saw Michael’s clothes on the floor strewn all over; I raised my eyebrows and looked at Amanda’s door. The laughing was coming from behind the closed door so did the stink of Michael.

            “Well Amanda I hope you have fun with him because I am not sure how much longer he will be living.” I laid my fingers on the light wood door, tracing the daisies she painted on the door. I heard the laughter again and soft growling, seriously I did not want to know what was going on in there. I clenched my nails digging into the wood, gouging it and I looked down at my bloodied fingers nails.

            “You lycans are a strange lot; I can not believe the Queen actually wants to associate with a pack of mangy mutts.” I whirled around and saw a girl sitting on the banister; she was examining her nails and looking around in disgust. Her wide lilac eyes settled on me and there was something cold and murderous in her eyes. A smile curled on her rosebud lips, I narrowed my eyes and looked at her.

            She was perfectly put together, from her French manicured nails, to the intricate braids in her hair; her dress was something out of Alice in Wonderland, complete with striped stockings and petticoat. She swung her sweet in the air, the light glinting off her black patent leather Mary Jane shoes. Her hair was a strange mixture of copper and pink, her eyes were just as strange; the same amber color in her hair streaked her eyes along with green. She hopped off the banister and came towards me, she moved with the grace of a cobra and I felt myself mesmerized by her.

            “Do you plan to continue gawking at me or are we going to make the proper introductions that are customary to your people.” I raised an eyebrow and she let out a girlish giggle. She extended a dainty porcelain hand and I looked at it reluctantly, she wiggled her fingers, letting out an exasperated sigh.

            “Oh come now you know I bloody well won’t bite. Here let me make this simple for you, I know that your animal brain cannot understand that I come in peace.” She grabbed my hand and took it into her small icy one. I looked down and yanked my hand out of hers; she pulled back and hissed at me.

            “How did you get in here kid, no let me guess you’re either one of Lydia’s little playthings or one of Lynx’s lackeys.” Her tri-colored eyes widened and her pink lips pulled back to expose fangs.

            “How dare you address me like that! You are nothing but a mere animal and I showed the proper respect to someone befitting of your position and that is how you address me?” she was now sneering at me as if she smelled something bad. I wrinkled my nose, I smelled something bad too, and I sniffed around the door and sneezed. There was a stink in the air; it was not coming from the room though. I walked over to the indignant girl in my hallway and sniffed the air around her. I pulled back and slapped my hand over my nose. This seemed to offend her even more.

            Her face turned bright red and her hair started flying around angrily. She clenched her fists and the smell grew worse. I backed up against the door and heard the high-pitched squeals of Amanda from inside her room. I rolled my eyes and pulled my hoodie up over my nose to try to get the stink out of my nostrils.

            “Little girl, I do not know what your game is, whatever that stench is that you’re emitting you need to tone it down. Unless you want me to vomit all over you, which I can be more than happy to oblige in your desires and that is going to happen sooner than later.” I could feel the bile rising in my stomach. She let out an ear-piercing screech and stamped her feet. The whole house shook and I slid down the wall covering my ears and my nose.

            She continued to throw her temper tantrum, the walls started cracking and her hair was flying all over the place. Her eyes glowed red as she glared at me; I continued slowly moving away from her. Thick oily tendrils of miasma oozed from her pores and slithered towards me.

            “Enough Princess Lolicia.” The voice was cold and the little girl turned her head towards the voice. I scrambled as far away from the disgusting parasite as I could get, I turned my head and wretched my stomach contents out on the floor. I coughed and vomited again as my head spun from the sickening smell.

            “She was being rude, and you should have seen the way she addressed me!” I wanted to say something to the petulant brat; only presently, I was too busy throwing up. Thank you very much, I did have some dignity and managed not to cry while puking. I shakily leaned back against my door and stared at the pouting princess. Who was glowering at me, her red eyes still glowing, she had her tiny fists balled on her hips. I chewed my lip and started laughing despite the ill feeling creeping in my head.

            I heard the ear-splitting screech again and the house shook, I started laughing harder, she looked like a cracked out doll that was having a bad hair day. I snorted and started laughing again holding my aching sides. I saw a shadow looming over me and I thought it was the dread attack of the fifty-foot doll. The image caused me to double over and wipe tears from my eyes.

            “SHE IS BEING VERY RUDE! I WILL KILL HER!” I saw a bright flash and the shadow in front of me waved his hand dismissively and all was silent. I started hiccupping because now I was battling being scared and amused.

            “Princess your mother will be displeased I am sending you home now.” His voice boomed through the house and a gust of wind I peeked around the shadow man and saw the princess disappear into a smoky ball. The room looked as if nothing had happened and there was no more stink of rotting vegetation and flesh. I leaned back against my door again and closed my eyes, my head pounded and I now had barf breath.

            “I apologize for Princess Lolicia, she has a bit of a temper and should never have left the palace unaccompanied by a guard.” I waved my hand dismissively and felt nauseous again. The voice was pleasant with a tinge of an accent. Almost like Lynx’s voice, yet not quite. I threw a hand over my mouth and ran into the bathroom; I was not going to vomit in the hallway again.

            I grasped the cold porcelain and yet again threw up what was in my stomach. I heard the door open and I heard footsteps that echoed loudly in my head. I knew it was not Amanda; she was still in her room with Michael doing things that I did not want to imagine. Why they did not hear the temper tantrum of the princess, I’m not sure. I leaned my head against the cool seat and muttered under my breath.

            I groaned as I felt someone sit behind me and start stroking my hair. I ached all over and felt sick again. I quickly leaned over the toilet and threw up again, the person who was stroking my hair held it back so I did not get puke in it.

            “The Queen will be displeased that you are poisoned and that you will not be able to attend her ball.” The voice was so much like Lynx’s, I knew it was not him though. I sighed and felt tears prick at my eyes. I did not want to think about some fairy Queen and her stupid ball.

            “Yeah well, I must say I am not heart broken, what exactly happened out there?”  I flushed the toilet and leaned back against the vanity inhaling deeply. I needed to calm my shaky nerves, I thought of water and the gurgling sound it made. I also though of birds chirping, running through the woods in wolf form, my claws digging into the fresh earth.

            “Allow me to introduce myself; I am Lord Tristan of her majesty’s court. I have been assigned to be the chevalier of your ladyship.” I quirked an eyebrow and felt a smirk pull at my lips. I did not open my eyes though, I still was shaky and I did not want to see the man in front of me just yet.

            “Chevalier eh? That is an old word; tell me do your people have last names? Or do you just have one name like Cher or Madonna?” I smiled weakly and opened my eyes, I groaned as the bright light of the bathroom lights hit my eyes.

            “Well, you may want to shift, if you wish I could carry you outside and then turn around until you change. It will help ease the effects of the miasma; also it will be more comfortable to transport you to the Queen’s residence.” I shook my head and wished the jackhammer would stop. I curled up in a ball on the floor and wished that I could die.

            “My sister and mother will not allow it.” I heard a whisper of fabric as something silky was put over my shivering and aching body. A cool hand was placed on my sweat-drenched forehead and a sense of ease came over my body. I felt as if I were floating, instead of anchored to the tile floor of my bathroom, quivering and twitching.

            “As my lady wishes, I will inform your sister and her male companion of my intentions.” I started laughing, he was so formal, and I wished I could open my eyes without pain searing my brain. I reached my hand up to my knight and he took it in his cool, smooth hand, his lips pressed the back of my hand and I did not have the strength to pull away.

            “Might I offer another service, since it seems that you are in pain I can read your thoughts, all I need is your consent. It will make it easier to communicate until you are better. I do wish you would change to wolf form.” I could hear the concern in his voice so I grunted and managed feebly to nod my head.

            “Thank you my lady, I shall wait until you are changed to address your sister and gentleman friend.” I wished I could see him, yet somehow I knew he bowed as he left the bathroom. I mustered all my energy and called to my wolf, she was just as weak as I was and protested against the pull.

            “Please, if we don’t shift, we will die.” I felt the surge of her as the bones in my body bent to elongate into a lithe body of a wolf. My nails lengthened and dewclaws burst from my wrists and ankles. I cried out as the pain and heat ripped through my body, the agonized scream turning into a soft whimper. I collapsed onto the tile and felt its cool smooth surface brush my fur.

            “Tristan, what is your last name do you even have one?” I heard the door open and blinked my eyes to let them become adjusted to the light spilling in. I looked up and I let out another whimper and tried to stand up. He came over to me and laid his hand on my forehead, his slender fingers caressing my ears. His hair came down to his shoulders and was a honey color, some of the blonde streaks were lighter. His hair was mesmerizing; it seemed to take on a life of its own in the light.

            His skin was a golden color that complimented his hair well, something silver glinted in his fully lips and his long dark lashes caressed his gold cheeks. His body was muscular yet not in the same way that Dylan and Michael were built. He was wiry, and his baggy shirt and pants hung off his frame. He smiled and I leaned my head into his hand and whimpered again.

            “My name is Lord Tristan Luciferus.” He bowed and I lowered my head touching the tip of my nose to his toes. He laughed and I looked up blinking, he shrugged and I wagged my tail. How could I not like him?

            “Your accent is interesting Tristan, where are you from?” I heard soft yips and giggling coming from Amanda’s room. My fur bristled and I let out a low growl, his hand rested on my muzzle and I shook off those slender fingers.

            “Germany, shall we advise your sister of what we are to do.” I was still weak but hearing my sister having fun with someone she warned me about just irked me. I had to stay away from him because he would kill me, yet it was fine for her to do whatever it was she was doing with him. I stood up shakily on my legs and shook off the remnants of my clothes; I looked down at the torn clothes and snorted.

             “Yes let us go to see my sister and if the supposed alpha male gives us a hard time I give you permission to kill him” Tristan bowed and held the door open for me, I unsteadily made my way towards the bedroom where the scent of male wolf clung to every pore of the house. I sneezed and shook my head. I peeled my lips back from my teeth and let out another growl. The door opened and I saw Amanda standing there with her hair mussed and her clothes ruffled. She looked at me and then at Tristan.

            “Sis? Who is this? Why are you in wolf form?” I growled at her again and she backed up into the room. A large chestnut shape appeared behind her and stared at me with his yellow eyes. He looked at me and then at Tristan, his lips pulled back and his body lowered into a crouch. Tristan moved like a flash and was standing in front of me; a sword appeared from nowhere, its silver blade gleaming in the light.

            “Michael please, sis? Can you hear me? Who is this? Why are you doing this?” I sat down and rolled my eyes. When did Amanda become such a crybaby?

            “I am Lord Luciferus, I am Lady Victoria’s chevalier, and she has given me permission to kill the wolf if he is to get in our way.” I knew I looked smug, even in wolf form I could pull off a smug look. Amanda’s eyes widened and she stared at the two of us; she knelt down and wrapped her arms around Michael’s neck.

            “Please, just tell us what you want and leave. Leave my sister alone, leave us alone!” I lay down and groaned, she was such a drama queen, if daytime television needed a soap opera actress she would make the cut. Tristan suppressed a smirk and bowed, never taking his eyes off Michael.

            “I have been sent by Queen Anemone Setsuko of the dark fairy court, to escort Lady Victoria to her residence, where they will meet and discuss the future of the local pack of lycanthropes.” I looked at him and narrowed my eyes, he left out the part where his kind was killing the non lycans as well.

            “I am sorry my lady, the Queen wishes that I do not discuss that, it is but a mere formality that she will discuss with you.” I stared at him and he shrugged imperceptibly, he was still staring at the horrid look on Amanda’s face and the snarling Michael. Amanda turned her tear-filled eyes towards me and I glared at her. She looked away and whispered something to Michael. His ears twitched and he looked at us then turned around, he gave one last look over his shoulder before he disappeared into her room.

            Amanda was kneeling on the floor a defeated slump to he shoulders, I almost felt bad for her, only I would if she was not such a hypocrite. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she started sobbing. Tristan shifted uncomfortably and I stared coldly at my sister.

            “Do what you want, we love you Vic, please come back to us alive.” Tristan nodded and I followed him down the stairs. Her sobs followed us and I pinned my ears back when I heard the last foreboding words she spoke.       

            “Although in the end one of us will die.” My fur bristled and I knew Tristan heard as well. It all came down to death, why was it that one or the other had to die?



© 2009 Jessica Fox


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OOH. I like it sis. Great job.

Posted 15 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.


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Added on March 17, 2009
Last Updated on March 18, 2009


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Jessica Fox
Jessica Fox

City of Fallen Angels, NJ



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