The Demon's Daughter

Taming the Wolf

    Morning came too quickly for Cillian’s taste. The rumble in his stomach reminded him that he and Madison had been gone from the school for almost a day now. He needed to hunt. If he found some meat he could eat it as it was, and maybe Madison would wake up and get a fire going again to cook something. He didn’t know the extent of her survival skills, but she seemed like the type who might know how to survive in the woods for a short length of time. Even so, Cillian was careful to hunt only a short distance from the small camp so he could hear if there was a commotion.

Madison awoke to the searing pain in her legs. Demons, she thought bitterly. She knew this pain anywhere. When demon claws cut into human flesh it burned as if salt were being poured in the wound. Madison’s brothers used to torture her when she was younger by chasing after her and making small cuts in various places that caused immense pain. Once, Cian had held her down while Zagan had cut the soles of both her feet. It pained her to walk for days after that. Of course, they had found it hilarious.

Madison shook the memory from her head and looked around. A small, smoldering campfire was to her left. Cillian must be nearby. She remembered him grabbing onto her as they fell into the pit, but everything went black after that. Werewolves probably survived hell better than humans, she reasoned. Where was he now though? Cillian didn’t seem like the type to leave her alone. Was he battling the demon? Was the battle over? How long had she been out? There were too many questions. She needed to find a weapon and some shelter in case there were enemies about.

The trees around were dense in most spots, but they looked familiar. There was a forest right outside the city. Madison remembered passing it on her trips to and from school and home. Forests were magical places. A person needed magic to call magic forth from the land though. “I hate being human,” Madison mumbled as she laid her head back on the ground.

A sound nearby made Madison’s head snap back up. She found herself staring into the red eyes of a huge werewolf. Alphas had red eyes, she thought. She remembered reading that in some text at her house. She had never seen a werewolf in wolf form though. There was something truly terrifying about this wolf, with his fangs the size of her forearm and paws as large as her head. Something about this wolf was familiar though.

“Cillian?” Madison said, trying to stop her voice from shaking.

The wolf paused for a moment before laying down on its stomach, resting its large head between his two front paws. Madison took that to mean it was Cillian.

“What happened to the demon?” Madison asked, fully aware that a wolf can’t talk.

Cillian bared his teeth and snarled.

It was Madison’s turn to pause. “Nice work?” she replied uncertainly.

Cillian got up and went over to her legs. He sniffed at them carefully. If Madison could, she would have moved them away from him simply because she wasn’t quite sure she could trust a full blown werewolf.

 “They hurt,” she admitted. “I can’t really move them much. I don’t know if I can stand or walk yet.”

Cillian looked around the forest. There wasn’t a city close by, but there had to be one eventually. If Madison couldn’t travel on her own though, he’d have to carry her. He walked over and nudged her arm, making her jump and recoil. Madison tried to laugh off the action, but Cillian looked at her, his head c****d to one side as if in confusion.

Madison sighed. “I…I’ve never seen a werewolf before. Not like in werewolf form. It’s kind of intimidating. You’re like a hundred times scarier like this, you know?”

Cillian let out a low bark that Madison took to be a bark.

“If that’s you laughing then you’re fired,” Madison retorted with a hint of sarcasm.

Cillian shook her head. He nudged her arm again and then tossed his head back toward his shoulders. He looked back and made the motion again then looked at Madison and lifted his head up.

“This is legit the weirdest game of charades I’ve ever played,” Madison stated. “You want me to try to stand and hold onto you? I suppose I can try. Do you like your fur being pulled? That might be where this leads.”

Cillian ignored her as he laid down next to her so she could reach over and hold onto him. Madison was shocked to find that his fur was actually soft. She always imagined it would be rougher, more like coarse fur than soft. Instead, she found it was actually quite nice. Once she had a good grip, she tried to pull herself up, and Cillian stood, pulling her up as well.

“Jesus, that hurts. I hate demons,” Madison groaned. She was breathing heavily already and didn’t know how she’d make it any distance with the pain she was in. Nevertheless, she took a tentative step. Her legs immediately gave out and she slid to the ground. “I can’t,” she said, letting go of Cillian.

Cillian looked at her for a moment. He went over and nudged her legs and then looked at his back.

“I know the joke is all rich girls know how to ride horses, but I don’t think that skill transfers to werewolves,” Madison replied.

Cillian growled lowly.

“Okay, okay,” Madison said with a sigh.

Cillian laid back down next to Madison. Madison again grabbed onto Cillian’s fur, this time trying to hoist herself up onto his large frame. It took a bit of maneuvering, but finally Madison was able to clamber on and find a semi-suitable position to sit/lay in. Once she was situated, Cillian stood, causing Madison to yelp in fear and clutch him tighter.

“Can we agree to never talk about this?” Madison asked as he took off at a slow pace.

Cillian let out something that was between a bark and a howl.

“I’m taking that as a yes,” Madison remarked.

Madison tried to ignore the pain in her lower extremities as the duo trekked through the forest. She imagined it was easier for Cillian to carry her when he was in his wolf form, so that’s why he didn’t shift back right away. At the same time, it was odd to be riding on the back of a werewolf, especially for someone who had never even seen a werewolf in real life before today. Madison tried to remind herself that this was Cillian though. They had known each other for a few weeks now, and his job was to protect her. He was doing his job. He just happened to be doing that in his more powerful form.

Without meaning to, Madison laid her head down on Cillian’s back. Cillian had never interacted with a human before when he was in wolf form, let alone had a human on him, so every sensation was new to begin with, but when he felt Madison’s head rest on his back, he felt a sense of calm rush over him. Something about this human called him back to his senses each time, and it was completely new to him. It felt natural and right to protect and be near Madison. It shouldn’t because this was just a job, but it did.

After a while, Cillian felt Madison’s grip beginning to loosen. She was tired and in pain still. She needed to rest and eat. He stopped and laid down, allowing Madison to roll off his back and onto the ground.

“Yep, not like a horse,” Madison muttered.

Cillian shook his head. He felt confident Madison wouldn’t be moving very far, so he went off in search of food to survey the terrain. The forest in this area was fairly dense, and the only animals he could find were small: squirrels, chipmunks, and birds. Nonetheless, he easily killed a few. He brought them back to Madison and placed them near her.

Madison wrinkled her nose. “Right, good hunting, but I can’t eat raw meat,” she said. “Just find a way out of the woods. I can survive without food until then.”

Cillian turned to leave.

“Take the dead squirrels with you!” Madison called out.

Cillian turned back and picked up the dead animals, gulping them down in one bite.

“Show off,” Madison muttered. She couldn’t blame him for being hungry though. After all, he was the one who fought the demon and had to carry her through the woods. Madison could only hope Cillian found a way out of the woods soon. She wanted to shower and sleep in her own bed. Well, what she really wanted was one of her mother’s healing spells, but she’d take a shower and sleep in its place.

Cillian returned shortly and found Madison sleeping. He nudged her awake.

“Okay, okay,” Madison said, rolling onto her back. “I’m not sure how I feel about your face right in mine.”

Cillian jerked his head in the direction he had just came from.

“You found a way out?” Madison asked.

Cillian let out a low bark.

“Are there people nearby?”

The wolf c****d his head to one side.

“Right, you probably didn’t get too close. Good idea. You’d terrify the humans,” Madison said.

Cillian nudged her again, this time in the stomach.

“It was a joke,” Madison called out, attempting to shove the wolf away. “Well, kind of. I mean, werewolves and humans don’t exactly mix well. Anyway, get me as close as you can and I’ll figure it out from there.”

Cillian nodded and laid down so Madison could get back on him. Madison sighed as she climbed back on the large wolf and tried to find a decent spot to stay seated. She wondered if Cillian had ever had someone on his back before when he was in wolf form. It seemed like an odd thing to do, carry people around like this. Then again, it was one of the only ways to easily get her out of the woods. Werewolves were exceptionally strong when in their wolf forms, so this was nothing to Cillian. As for Madison, she tried to ignore the fact that if Cillian were to shift back into human form he’d be a fully naked human man right now and she’d be essentially on top of him. At least he’d attractive, she thought to ease her mind.

In an odd way Madison did find Cillian attractive. Then again, Madison found plenty of supernatural beings attractive, and each time she reminded herself that it was basically cross-species breeding if she had any type of relationship with them. In her world, plenty of supernatural beings crossed those boundaries, but most drew the line at humans. It was a taboo. Demons would r**e humans for the fun of it, and some other beings were known to take advantage of humans as well, but to actually have a relationship with one was seen as disgusting. Madison had grown up with that knowledge, and it had never bothered her until now. She could be friends with Cillian—although he was her bodyguard, not her friend—but they’d never be anything more.

The trees began to thin out as Cillian reached the edge of the wooded area. He slowed his pace and carefully stepped out into the open area. Madison could make out a road not far from where they were and even some houses in the distance.

“How close can you get?” Madison asked. She paused for a second. “Why did I think you were going to answer? Just get as close as you can and let me down.”

Cillian continued to move stealthily toward the houses, aware that he was completely exposed now that they were out of the woods. He could smell humans nearby, food cooking somewhere, and car exhaust. Cillian knew he couldn’t risk getting much closer. If he was spotted it would start rumors and problems. He laid down and let Madison slide off his back.

“Go, hide. I’ll find some help from here,” Madison said to him.

Cillian didn’t move. He stared at the house and then let out a loud howl.

“Are you crazy?!” Madison shouted. “Get out of here!”

Cillian howled again before turning and sprinting back to the woods. He was quick! Madison had never seen him actually run before, but he closed the distance between her and the woods in a few bounds and was gone in mere seconds.

“Was that a wolf?” a man’s voice echoed across the field.

“During the day?” another man said in shock. “It must have been after something.”

“Help!” Madison yelled. “Hey! Help me!” She waved her arms and tried to stand but succeeded in falling again.

“Holy s**t! There’s a person out there. Mac, get your gun in case the wolf is still around. We’re coming!” a man shouted back.

Madison laid back on the ground and sighed.

“Call 911,” the first man said as he took up his rifle and headed across the field.