Howl by Brieanna Boyce (chrome ebook reader txt) 📖

looked to be the oldest part, and I could smell the old blood still rotting from where I was shackled.
The room was dimly lit with candles and as if I wasn’t any more fearful the shadows the candles were casting played tricks with my eyes. Giving me the impression of being inside some large beast, and sending shivers down my spine.

The council members arrived, their cloaks shading their faces so that they were voices in the shadows, so that they were just as elemental as the shadows they were camouflaged in. They all sat in unison and that’s when the queen appeared, her thrown was placed in front of the spectators, something in her position and the way she whisked through told me that she noticed too and was not pleased by the way she was left out of deciding my verdict.

In unison they all declared their verdict, their voices seeming to weave together with the magic and raw power of old lore. “Skylar Joan Dubrinsky, due to your violent acts, your unpredictable behavior, and the killing of the Queen’s Second in command you are hereby sentenced to death by public execution. May you serve as example to all those who would threaten the vampire race.”

The words slammed into me though I already knew that would be the verdict, I heard the guards footsteps approach me, I closed my eyes tears streaking down my cheeks. “How you have fallen,” I whispered aloud to myself, “O Morningstar son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth,” (Isaiah 14:3-20)

The queen sat up, “Wait!” Her regal voice, loud and commanding quickly took away the power of the council’s melodious spell. “Why,” she said slyly, “should we kill her?”

“She is a threat, she must be illuminated immediately.” The council responded solemnly.

“Well, “the queen said smiling and turning to the crowd, twisting them around her finger. “I for one think that we should much rather like to know why this girl is such a threat. She being only a mere fledging, we should like to know how she went about killing expert vampires, especially one’s like our dear belated Delilah.”

The crowd was full of ruthless smiles and nods. For the first time I was grateful for the queen’s presence.

The council shouted, “NO!” the power seemed to shift in the room, until even the queen herself was nothing more than a subject, “We give you permission to question her before she is executed, but her execution will not be delayed!”

The queen had nothing in response, Tristan bit his lip desperately trying to remain silent and trying as fast as he could. To have his brain comprehend and come up with a solution for the problem as he often did. Tristan shifted restlessly, his eyes which had been diverted the whole time desperately searched into my own eyes.

As the guards dragged me into the pit tying me to a large stone stake in the ground, so that my wrists and ankles were bound my hands above my head. The queen stood over me, “How come you can kill vampires older and more skilled than you?!”

I smiled my lips, which were parched split open as I did so, the soothing blood dripping down into my mouth. “I don’t know why I should tell you anything.”

“So there’s something to tell?” The queen inquired.

I smiled, staring her down with my silent defiance; if I was to go down I would go down fighting.

The queen getting impatient grabbed 2 knives, and moving so quickly I almost didn’t catch it, she maneuvered so she had the knives poised at Tristan and Adoni’s throat.

“No!” I shouted.

The queen’s face snarled, her impatience wearing at her regal façade, “How did you kill them?!”

I gaped my eyes tearing up.

“Tell me now!” The queen shrieked than motioned to cut their throats.

“Wait!” I said sobbing, I couldn’t let Adoni and Tristan die, I loved Kale I loved Derek, I loved Jason, I loved Gerard, and I even loved Meg. I couldn’t give away our secret, well my secret, if they knew… but looking at Tristan and Adoni I couldn’t sacrifice them no matter how well the cause. I wept at my betrayal, “I’m so sorry Kale,” I whispered.

“Well?!”

I looked up at her, “I’m not just a vampire.” I stated solemnly.

The queen raised her eyebrow, “So you did learn vampire hunting from your mother?”

I shook my head, “No I had no clue.”

“Than what are you?” The queen asked her voice filled with awe.

“I- the night I turned,” I hesitated, “I was bitten but saved.”

The queen roared, “Saved?! Saved by whom?”

I sighed, “Werewolves.”

The queen frowned, “This is no time for-“

“It’s the truth!” I shouted.

The queen’s upper lip curled in a grimace, “prove it.”

I sighed and looked through the recess’s of my mind, I searched for the she-wolf and then there she was, “are you sure you want to do this Skylar?”

“I have to.”

The she wolf did the equivalent of a sigh, “I know.”

Slowly, I receded into my wolf state, I kept my eyes closed letting my hair turn to fur and my teeth turn to fangs, while my feet and hands turned to paws.

Around me I heard gasps, shrieks, squeals, when my eyes opened I knew I was in the body of the wolf. I couldn’t help but growl angrily showing my fangs.

The queen gaped, and then smiled in astonishment, “She is…” She looked at the council satisfied.

Than the executioner came in and an odd sense of relief swept over me, this must have been the sense of acceptance that people often wrote of feeling when they have a near death experience. The queen smiled and suddenly felt a liquid pour over me; I opened my eyes in surprise and suddenly detected the odor, gasoline.

The queen suddenly looked at Adoni than Tristan. “I don’t suppose I need you two anymore.”

Adoni’s eyes went wide in fear and Tristan’s in shock; both of their faces were frozen that way as the queen dragged the knife across their throats. The blood poured over them and their bodies fell limp beside her as she cackled cruelly.

“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!”

The queen threw the match down laughing as the others in the hall joined in. The laughter became haunting as the flames consumed me.

I flailed, I burned, I cried, I screamed, I cursed, but most importantly I howled.


Epilogue:

Kale
I woke up and launched myself out of bed, the same dream, always, always. Meg rolled over and looked at me, “Mmm… Kale sweetie,” she hugged me close half asleep, “tell me what’s wrong.” I kissed her forehead and rubbed her back absentmindedly, “Nothing, I just got to go to the bathroom is all.”

Meg pouted half asleep, “baby you need sleep.”

Ignoring her I got up and went to the bathroom. I turned on the faucet leaning over the sink and splashing ice cold water onto my face. I looked into the mirror and hated what I saw. I was using Meg, one of my friends, one of the members of the pack to fill the void Skylar left. The last time I saw her was a month ago in New York City, I hadn’t heard any news since moving to Texas.

Meg always insisted that Skylar was fine and that she’d “moved on without us.” Meg always viewed what Skylar had done as selfish, but I couldn’t help but believe that Skylar had always moved so that she didn’t hurt anyone. Though, in retrospect Skylar should not even be coming up in conversation anymore.

I had Meg now, she was capable of sticking around, and our relationship was effortless. She supported me and stood by me, well I provided her with the intimacy she’d always wanted in a relationship. Sometimes though, on moments like this, she didn’t do me any good. Of course I realized she was an attractive girl, that was undeniable and despite her being notoriously bitchy she was sweet, feminine, and loyal to me. Yet, that wasn’t what I wanted.

I was still ostracized by my pack, not intentionally of course, but due to my authoritative position I still was placed on a pedestal, I was the example. They obeyed my orders and never questioned, like Skylar did. I sighed; Skylar always haunted me at night. During the day I could distract myself; I could worry about the pack or Meg. During the night however my subconscious ran rampant and it knew what was missing.

I hoped every night that Skylar was alright, I hoped wherever she was that she was safe and that someday maybe she’d find us again and…

But it was almost certain Skylar was fine she was very resourceful. Besides, that second wish, it was all for the better, I mean what would I do where she here?

“Make her yours.” The alpha male demanded.

I shook my head and tried to clear my thoughts but Skylar kept returning. It was so odd, the dreams I mean. It wasn’t weird because they were of Skylar, but how she was portrayed in the reoccurring dream was.

I would be walking through town; the quaint buildings would be lined up. The streets are almost empty, and suddenly the buildings begin oozing blood. It leaked onto the streets and into gutters. I walk through it in the dream looking around bewildered until I reach the outskirts of town where the forest lies. The blood is pouring now, and I have to fight the current to get inside the forest.

Once there I would look around and see nothing, however occasionally I would hear a faint rustling noise. I’d turn and than once again be greeted by nothing.
Suddenly I’d be tackled to the ground and when I flip over it’s a small black werewolf with one gold and one red eye.

“Skylar!” I shout, smiling in excitement.

She doesn’t respond but instead, she turns human and smiles.

Her hair is thrown wildly around her and her eyes are bright and wild. She is wearing a night gown which despite being singed, torn, and smeared with blood held the potential for beauty. Blood covered her mouth, and her nails which were as long and sharp as daggers. She was still lovely, but it was a different kind of beauty, she was more feral.

She took my hand almost as if it were normal and led me, easily treading through the blood to a clearing. In the clearing there were read roses everywhere oozing blood. There was an odd tree that was warped so that it made the appearance of a seat. Skylar walked over and with ease sat herself upon the throne. Her lips parted and gave way to a cruel grin, which revealed long, sharp canines covered in blood.

She reached down and pulled up a large red rose than crushed it between her hands, blood poured between her fingers and when she opened her hand she leaned down and showed me. The blood stain left letters which read, “There Will Be Blood.”