9 - It cannot be
1809 Words
Elenor
“What the hell are you talking about? Of course, he’s a dog!”
Michael is insane, thinking Decker is anything other than a dog. He’s been with me for three years. I’m pretty sure I would have known if he was anything else. He’s hardly ever away from me!
Michael stares at my dog with a wicked smirk on his face. I look at Decker and see that his whole body is shaking. I’m not surprised. All dogs cower before a Lycan, and this Lycan is Royal, so it must be even more terrifying for Decker.
I get to my knees and wrap my arm around Decker, trying to offer some comfort.
“What the hell are you doing to my dog?”
Michael tips his head to the side as his eyes change colour. I gasp because they’re shining amber with blue flex. Decker whimpers beside me. I shush him and stroke his head.
“Who are you?” I ask because whoever I’m looking at it is no longer Michael.
‘My name is Dante. I am Michael’s Lycan, and you would do well to move away from that beast.”
“Absolutely not!” I get to my feet, slam my hands on my hips, and I glare at Dante. “I don’t know what your problem is, but my dog is not a monster! He’s just a dog.”
Dante scoffs. ‘You really are naïve.’ His glowing eyes shoot to Decker. ‘You have five seconds to transform, or I’ll make you. Trust me, you don’t want that. One…’
“Stop!” I yell. “This is insane!”
Surely, I would have known if I had been living with a shifter for the last three years?
Decker has never given me any reason to doubt he is the dog I know him to be. Decker has been nothing but loyal and protective, and having this man treat him like a criminal is pissing me off! My dog has helped protect Michael’s daughter since the day she came into our lives. The bastard could be a little more grateful.
‘Two…’ Dante continues. ‘Three… Remember, doggie, there’s no way out.’
I gasp when, magically, every door and window lock, shutting us in.
“Please!” I yell, but Dante doesn’t stop counting, and Decker whines louder. I cannot stand this!
What will Michael’s Lycan do when he realizes Decker can’t transform?
Will Dante attack my beloved dog and kill him in front of me?
How am I meant to stop a Royal Lycan?
I stand protectively in front of Decker. “Please, stop this. There is no need for any of this.”
Dante smirks as blue electricity-like sparks cackle at his moving fingertips. ‘Move out of the way.’
I shake my head. “No. I won’t let you hurt him. Please, he’s my friend. You’re pushing for something that won’t happen. I told you we didn’t have to take Decker with us when we left. Edmund will care for him, but do not hurt him.”
The popping sound as Dante rolls his neck turns my stomach over. I hate that noise!
‘Have it your way then.’ Dante raises his hand, and my heart sinks while my stomach drops.
But I gasp when a croaky “Wait!” comes from behind me.
I turn and look at the man crouching where my dog once sat.
What the fuc.k?!
He’s naked, though I can’t see anything other than the right side of him. His long, shaggy brown hair hides his face, and his spine arches with every breath he takes.
I must be losing my damn mind! No, I’m still locked in the dungeon. I fell asleep, and this is just a bad dream. Yes, that’s what happened.
Only, it’s not. I really see this man in place of my dog, who once sat there.
I feel violated! I told this man things I have never told anyone. All of my deepest, darkest secrets, and all my hopes and fears. I thought telling my dog those things was safe because he could not tell anyone. He never judged me. He sat with me and let me talk, letting out so much that I felt a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Keeping so much pain and anguish inside is no good for anyone. But now, I feel sick, hurt, and betrayed. I’ve been sharing my home and life with a man parading around as a dog! Not even a Wolf, a fuckin.g dog!
The man slowly stands with his head hanging down. He snaps his fingers, and my eyes widen upon seeing him transform from the naked, dirty, shaggy-haired man to the clean, short-haired, well-dressed man I see now. He’s dressed all in black with a long cloak, and his hair is slicked back.
He rolls his neck and stretches his back. “Ah, that’s better.” He breathes deeply and smirks.
What the fuc.k is going on?
I look at Michael and see that he is himself again. I’m confused as to why he’s smiling at the man who was once my dog.
“Long time no see, Von.”
Von?
What the…?
Von, as Michael called him, chuckles. “It has been a while, hasn’t it?”
Von’s accent isn’t like mine or Michael’s; it sounds Romanian and olde worlde. He sounds like he’s been around for thousands of years.
Who is this man?
How does Michael know him?
Because it’s clear they know one another. Also, his name and accent pull at a memory long since buried. I have only seen his side profile, so I don’t yet know what he looks like.
“Where the hell have you been, Von? How did you end up taking the form of a damn dog?”
“Well,” Von pulls the ruffled sleeves of his shirt through the arm holes of his ankle-length, gothic coat. “I got a little sidetracked on my way back from the old country. It’s a long and tedious story, Michael. As for the dog thing… I ran into some trouble and transformed to trick the fools chasing me. They shot me and left me injured, which was no fun!
“I was found slumped in a ditch by Elenor and her brother.” He says my name, but he hasn’t looked at me yet. “They healed me and brought me here with them.” He shrugs.
“And you didn’t leave when you had the chance? I’m assuming you had ample opportunity?”
Von chuckles. “Of course! But I refused because you were being an ass, and Elenor and Sylva needed me. I wasn’t worried about being found out because you never came here. I wasn’t expecting you to turn up any time soon, Michael.”
Michael narrows his eyes slightly. “I’m taking Sylva home with me. Elenor is coming with us. I came here because Elenor wanted to take her precious Decker with her, and I needed to check him out. How no one else figured out who you were is beyond me.”
“No one ever got this close.” Von chuckles again.
I shut them out because I don’t give a damn about their little reunion. I am so confused. Nothing makes sense, and I can feel my powers bubbling inside of me. I am so scared they will burst out of me, and I cannot let that happen. It would expose me to the whole paranormal world, and that could be disastrous.
‘Edmund?’ I call my brother through our sibling link. ‘Edmund, please answer me. I need you!’
I’m becoming frantic! I’m scared, and only my brother can calm me right now. But he isn’t answering.
Where the fuc.k is he?
Hands encase my face, forcing me to snap out of my panic and look at them. I stare into steel grey eyes, and mine widen.
Oh my…
“It’s okay, Elenor. Breathe for me.” Von encourages me to breathe, but I am even more confused now.
I know this man, I’ve seen him before, more than once. This cannot be real.
How can this be?
How didn’t I sense him, even in dog form?
I should have sensed him!
Have I lost my mind?
I don’t know whether I’m scared, confused, or angry right now. Von has been this close all this time, and I had no idea. I knew the name and accent were familiar!
How have I been so blind?
I won’t stand here and blame myself for not realizing sooner. But my mind feels like it’s going to explode.
“How could you?” I whisper, my eyes darting from side to side. “How could you!?” I hiss louder while shoving him off me. “All this time! Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you?”
Von sighs. “I knew you would if I revealed myself, Elenor.”
“You planned it all. Didn’t you?”
Von shakes his head. “It was a fluke, Elenor. I had no idea you would be there.”
Sure, he didn’t!
“Wait,” Michael steps forward. “Elenor, you know Von in this form?”
I nod but don’t answer him because Edmund’s voice fills my head.
‘Elenor, answer me! What’s wrong?’
‘I need to see you. Right now. It cannot wait, Edmund.’
‘Are you still in the dungeon? Because I doubt they will let me see you.’
‘No, I was let out. I’m home.’
‘Okay. I’m on my way.’ Edmund cuts the link.
I look at Michael. “I need some air, and I don’t want either of you to follow me. I need some time on my own to clear my head. At least have enough respect to give me that.”
“Elenor,”
I shake my head at Von. “I don’t want to hear it, Von. You lied and hid from Edmund and me in plain sight. Regardless of why you did that, we didn’t deserve it, Von.”
“I know.” He sighs.
I turn to Michael. “I’ll be back shortly to collect my things. I want to say goodbye to my brother, and then I want to leave this place and everyone in it.”
I walk away without another word, slamming the door behind me. That the Gods Michael dropped his power, or I would have looked a fool trying to yank the damn thing open!
I pull back the urge to cry and scream, but the Gods know I want to scream my lungs out! I hope Edmund doesn’t lose his shi.t when I tell him who Decker really is.
Fuc.k, could this day get any worse?
- Writer
