Feral Hearts

Chapter 2 Victoria's POV

My mother packed an equally large bag for me. It dwarfed my small, thin frame and I had to carry it with both hands, bending backward to lift if off the floor. I didn't complain of the weight or ask for help.

The sound of breaking glass is heard as well with the other neighbors wailed echoing through their houses in quick intervals.

I found my mother in the dining room, smashing all of her herbs and other tools on the floor.

Her face glistened with sweat, and her golden ringlets fell loose over her eyes.

"Mama," I cried, running toward the broken tools and shards that littered the floor.

But I was pulled back before I could even touch the glass.

"Mother, why did you break them? We put our efforts in making them but why?" I asked.

She stopped and stared at the tools in her hand.

"Because I love them so much and I can't bare seeing them being smashed and ruined by others." She threw another tool to the floor not even pausing to see it break before reaching for another.

My tears are now visible and unintentionally a sobbed came out from my mouth.

"Don't cry, darling. Well I won't smash everything. Here is my book it would be yours," she whispered with her eyes looking at me in happiness.

"B-But I am still young, I can't have this-"

"Talent doesn't come with age. It is your heart who will carry the courage to use what's within."

---

I smile bitterly, remembering a memory from my past.

I had been traveling, seeking for a place that I can consider home.

And it leads me here.

But right now, winter had the village in its jaws.

The repeater had frostbite. The tips of his fingers were puckered, jet black. Gray bulbous lumps appeared on the end of his nose.

I can see villagers wrapped themselves in every piece of clothing and rags they could find. They even tied their feet in old fishing nets that had washed ashore. Everyone bickered inside their tents, getting on each other's nerves.

In this village, poverty is their fearful nemesis.

This village is found at the far end of the palace, no wolf and just humans which gave me opportunity to blend in. But these humans, are individuals who tried to escaped from the wolf king's grip

Yet, running away made them face a new hell.

Poverty...

Small children began dying. I took my food to a starving boy. He was already dead, his tiny hands outstretched, waiting for a piece of bread so I gave it to him. I came here and learned that they don't have a healer to cure them.

Then I walk towards this girl who looked anxious.

"What is it?" I asked. My eyes scanned the snow.

"Shh..." She pulled me closer and pointed.

I saw a huge owl lay in the snow. Its white feathers blended so well that at first I didn't see it. Its body looked to be nearly two feet long. The large Raptor had tiny brown speckles on its head and trunk.

"Is he sleeping?" she asked.

"I think it’s dead," I replied while gripping my mother's book harder. I took a stick with my free hand and poked at the wing. The owl didn't move.

"Yes, it's dead."

"Do you think we should eat him?" she asked again.

At first, I was shocked. Then I imagined the plump body, roasting in our barrel, like a chicken. I poked at it again. I grabbed its wing and pulled. It was heavy, but slid across the snow.

"This owl is enormous." The thought of a dead owl in my hand brings a lot of forgotten memories.

"But I'm so hungry," the girl cried.

I was hungry too. So were the few people in the village. I leaned over the owl and pushed its wings against its belly. It was stiff. Its face looked sharp, menacing. I didn't know if I could put it against my body. I looked at the girl and she nodded, with her eyes wide.

I glanced around.

"Unbutton my coat," I said and her little hands set to work.

I lifted the dead raptor and held it against my chest. Shivers of revulsion rolled through my body.

"Hurry, button me up." She buttoned my coat and smile.

Some humans help and escorted us safely back to our tents. They didn't ask for anything. They were happy to help someone, to succeed at something, even if they weren't to benefit. We'd been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean. I realized that if we boosted one another, maybe we'd get a little closer.

The girl's mother plucked the owl. We all crowded around the makeshift stove to smell it cook.

"It smells like a duck, don't you think?" said the little boy.

"Let's pretend its duck," A woman murmured.

After how many minutes waiting,

Our hands gripped one piece of meat that the woman divided to fit the number of starving bellies of humans.

I raised the meat towards my mouth, thinking it was my mother's food.

The taste of warm meat was heavenly. It didn't matter that it was a bit tough; the experience lasted longer because we had to chew. We imagined we were at a royal banquet

"Can't you just taste the gooseberry marinade?" sighed one of the elderly human.

"This is wonderful. Thanks to you Lily," said the woman towards the little girl who was with me a while ago.

"Thank her! She helped me bring the owl," the girl said and everyone smiled at me.

And it gave me a sense of home.

"Victoria, you're home." I raised my head and numbly nodded as a reply to her.

"We've been waiting for you, Lord Edward announced that the king is asking our help to find his mate," she said softly and almost a whisper.

"Why would he need us? We are assassins Lily, we are force to be here and we do serve them with all our might! And now he is asking us to do the opposite? I won't do such thing. I won't stoop so low and acts like a dog sniffing for the king's mate location." I heard her sighed before I felt her sat beside me.

"But the king is calling for everyone to find his mate, and even Lord Edward needs to follow his orders. Yet, I don't understand why his mate would escape from him-though I heard that his mate was a man maybe he was afraid and confused? Maybe he's afraid about the expectations and his duties. Or maybe he learned about the idea of producing heir and him being a male is a big no-"

"And maybe he learned that he was mated to a murderer," I added making her turned her head towards me.

"Oh," she mumbled.

I raised my cup filled with tonic to my mouth.

I just felt so weak and I need this to regain my strength.

"You are judging him too much Tori. Aren't you happy and satisfied? That with him being the king, he had made different positive changes." My gripped on the cup of tonic tightened.

"And seeing these would change his father's mistake?" I asked making her silent.

"Lily, do you remember how he served as his father's second command and watched every chaotic event unfolding in front of him while doing nothing? You remember how we starved? How our families and friends were murdered and how we are physically abused? We are trained to be their dogs! Trained to kill! And you think after everything he would still have a heart?" She sighed, and I just put my cup on the table and stare at the green liquid inside.

"But we need to follow orders Tori," she said in her worried voice.

"I know Lily, and I am doing this for your mate, for Edward who helped and raised us." She smiled, and I nodded.

"Tell me are you afraid?"

My eyes found hers and I just shook my head.

"No, if you’re pertaining about my identity then I'm not, because I have hidden myself for so long." She sighed and avoided her eyes from me.

"Are you aware that the king's mate was a witch?" I only nodded while I can see her troubled expression as well with sadness.

"Maybe the king would finally spare your kind Tori, maybe after having his mate he would realize that-"

"He won't, because if his mate was really one of my kin then it won't stop until he had the time to have the king's head on his hands."

"B-But-"

"I don't need his acceptance Lily because I can still use my mask." I said before raising the little red satin fabric from my lap and used them to cover my eyes.

"W-Wait… Why are you covering your eyes again, Tori? How can you find your mate if you will cover them?" she said and I bet she's on it again, pulling her hair because of frustration.

And even my eyes can only see blurry silhouettes; my heart won't have any thoughts of changing this or the things that I'm used to.

Darkness had been my long-time friend and I grew attached to it.

I've been used to this and can still move around using my other senses.

I can still listen to the elements around me. They whisper to my ears and guiding me towards my heart and mind's desire.

And having this was an opportunity to hide, an opportunity to hide my hatred and identity.

And mate?

"I don't need one," I coldly said.

"But it won't be long and you might find him Tori, just like the king and the others-"

"I don't need mate Lily," I stopped her before taking one bottle from my cabinet and without even pausing I open the lid and move it close to my mouth swallowing its content.

The bitter taste of the liquid embraces my being.

And I felt my doubts fading away.

"You've masked your scent again," she said with disappointment and I know that she wanted to make me like her. Being able to find a mate and able to live a normal life.

Yet, it won't be easy for me.

"I need them Lily," I replied but not long after,

I felt liquid trickling on the side of my lips.

And I felt trembling fingers wiping the liquid away from my skin.

"But drinking this would affect your health! You are turning weak Tori! You consumed too much poison from those herbs that you're taking. Are you not afraid finding yourself-?"

“Find myself dead? I don't care Lily as long as I was able to succeed the last promise I had for my kind." I heard her sobbing and it was like a dagger stabbing my heart.

It's painful to hear her cry but I need to do these.

"But do you think your father would be happy seeing his daughter spitting blood for taking so much poison just to be able to mask her identity and scent?"

I smiled, because even if he won't, I would still do this.

They chatted in low voices. My arms began to shake, trying to hold on.

Hurry...

I hung there, my hands began to sweat. I was losing my grip.

Leave...

A deep burning washed through the fibers of my muscles. Their conversation continued.

Please...

I bit my lip,

Move...

A wolf howled which serves a sign that the warriors are gathered outside.

My mother pulled me up while my eyes are still staring at my father's figure that’s standing in front of our window.

And suddenly we heard a scream,

while my father grips the window seal in hatred.

I stared at the scene outside the window where there are wolves baring their teeth. Dried blood caked their teeth with their eyes painted in dark rubies.

My father turned to faced me and smile.

"Run Victoria and never look back."