Under the moonlight

Lions' Den

Alexandria has never been within the walls of Helike. Her hatred painted this place as something suitable to the image werewolves in her head had­­­– something dim, and dangerous, filled with mist and the people eerie, yet now, standing in the crowded street full of lively people as the sun sets, she can’t help but notice how it looked so normal.

None of all the things she imagined in her head true. Vendors on the market, children running around, intoxicated men outside the tavern, and women having conversations, like the streets of her own Poleis of Caelum. The first time Alexandria watches these people with less disdain but more curiosity like this was when she was 10, eyes craved between the book about werewolves.

Distracted as she, she goes unaware of Selene’s eyes on her, subtly gauging her reaction to the place she evidently thought was different.

The king, Alexandria, and the other huntsmen wore black hoods that concealed their identity to these people as they are quite known amongst werewolves, while the others have disguised themselves as welcomed hunters, traders, and travelers from another land. They did not pack in one group as it would become more suspicious. The werewolves designated by Selene on their sides filled the atmosphere with pheromones, in an attempt to cover the humans’ scent.

Selene wanted to make the announcement on a safer ground for the humans, not in the middle of the street where the werewolves despised them. They are on edge; one wrong move can easily wreck an alliance that hasn’t even started. She’s afraid her people’s rage would destroy what small civility has been built.

“You­­­­- “ Selene’s thoughts are interrupted by a snarl that might as well be the very sound of loathing. A middle-aged man stands in front and grips the collar of a huntsman Selene knew by the name, Nolan of Lecouth, who looked unintimidated yet unsure of what is happening. Selene wasn’t the only one whose attention was diverted, humans and the werewolves alike were now focused on the scene that was unfolding.

It was clear to everyone that the man recognized Nolan from an encounter. “You­- the huntsman who killed my wife!” The man cried out, seemingly even more frustrated when he realized Nolan have not remembered like the person he loved was just another insignificant kill. The man landed a punch on Nolan’s jaw that made him stumble, and before he can go for another, Selene’s companions from the bridge were holding him back, “enough”.

The silence was deafening and in an instant, angry murmurs erupt amongst the werewolves. The humans regrouped at the center with the turn of events as the people of Helike started recognizing them. At this point, all of them are gripping the handles of their sheathed swords, and werewolves were close to transfiguring, some picking up their axes, or any weapon close to them. Children were brought inside the houses.

This is not good, Selene thought. “Everyone, lower your weapons” She tried to calm everyone down, to lessen the tension palpitating in the atmosphere, but it’s no use. She should have known that this would happen. 15 humans were a crowd, slimming their chance of slipping past the streets undetected. The order could only garner hesitation from her people, not enough to lower their guards down.

“What is the meaning of this traitorous act Selene? Escorting the humans into our territory yourself?!” A trader angrily exclaimed. Selene knows how it looks for her people. It is suspicious enough that the humans are here, more so that no ropes restraint them.

Alexandria inevitably locked eyes with one of the werewolves, hopelessly watched as they finally recognized her as well.

“It’s The Reaper…” Alexandria has always been somewhat proud of the title, underlying it the fear werewolves have for her. Nothing more satisfying than your own enemies fearing you and yet, she carries in her heart this faint sting, and how it suddenly doesn’t feel right. What senses it was the 10 years old self within, who was all curiosity and devoid of hate.

At the mention of her title, the people in the vicinity were much more either troubled or angry, some one step away from the cliff of an irreversible bloodbath.

“The Reaper too… are you truly insane?”

“Far from it. Though I would admit, I owe an explanation to everyone in here, now.”

“You bring these humans without respect to our still grieving fellows, the same people who costed lives of our own as well?”

“It is time that we set aside our past conflicts. We can’t fight these demons ourselves, you’ve seen them… and don’t dare to tell me otherwise,” The crowd fell silent as Selene made her point, thinking about their own experiences with those creatures was terrifying. Selene continued, “This is how our people will survive, we can’t possibly fight wars on both sides.”

“I’d rather die, than work alongside them…” A man who was drinking in the pub moments ago now appeared sober.

“And how about the children? You’d let them die too for your pride?!” Selene was getting angry. She’s been swallowing her own pride for the sake of their people because as a leader, she must, but now it feels tiring when no one else understands.

“Starting today, the humans will fight alongside us. Anyone who dares to defy this alliance will receive nothing but death” Burst of dominant pheromones started to fill the air, making the werewolves weak on their knees. Selene made fierce eye contact with the king as she added, “the same goes for your people.”

The castle’s a stark contrast to the atmosphere outside. The castle was eye-pleasing for sure, new applied cement along the cracked stone walls, subtle hints of war damage it once had that garnered it the title Fallen Castle, yet still in its own way, alluring.  The battlements, catapults, towers, and other parts of the castle were in fine conditions despite clues of long age. The air, on the other hand, was the smell of grief. As they walk inside the large front doors, what welcomes them is the sight of people inside, sorrow written all over their faces.

Alexandria has heard from her father of the current situation of Helike, while the only cases they’ve heard of the demons was that they eat humans for supplement, werewolf children were being abducted. Alexandria deduces that the attacks were most likely on the outer parts of Helike, now that they are seeking shelter inside the castle rather than their own homes if they were living anywhere near. The sight before her makes her feel all the turmoil of emotions that she doesn’t know what to make out of.

After the incident at that street a few moments ago, the word has spread faster than their legs could, and before they could even walk inside the fallen castle, no one dared to question the humans’ presence, even if it was painfully evident that they wanted to lash out.

Once they reach the top of the stairs, Selene spoke silently to the king, “Choose two of your attendant whom you trust. Once we reach the east-side tower where the books reside, the matter we’ll discuss is of high confidentiality, which I’m sure you understand.”

King Azar nodded at that, panic is most containable in a jar of a few people than released to do its bidding. In the end, Alexandria and Julius were the ones he ordered to come with, while Riven and Maeve were instructed to stay outside the door of the library. Others were positioned outside and inside the fallen castle.

Though the exterior was flattering, Alexandria was not surprised there were a whole lot of books inside. She has read somewhere that the previous family living within the castle before it was occupied by the werewolves were obsessed with anything historical, and that includes these books and the collections on the side.

She’s pulled out of her thoughts when she heard Selene spoke, “Heusef, show them the book.” They approached a short dark-haired man who looked previously busy reading the enormous stack of books on the table. In a moment, he cleared the table messily, and place an old covered book in the center.

“Ghouls, are what they are,” he started, seemingly nervous, “They’ve been extinct for a thousand years, and it was only through this old graphite sketch that I was able to identify them.” Alexandria’s eyes roamed around this sketch of what looks like a slender hairless beast with enormous wings, the size half the length of its body, a creature that thoroughly fit the definition of an ugly demon. “As you all know, they eat human flesh and abduct my people’s children.”

“Is there stated a reason why?” Alexandria asked. They know the beasts eat humans for supplement but what of the abductions?

Heusef gulped in dread for a moment and that was their first and only warning before he spoke, “to propagate.”