Soul Master

12. Amèlie

The first thing I woke to was the unmistakable sound of Asha's body shifting. The crushing of his bones and the familiar musky scent of wolf. My eyes fluttered open lazily to see him run towards me. No, not me... I looked beside me where Mum sat, her eyes wide and full of unmasked horror, my instincts took over. I threw myself at her, knocking her off the bed and taking her place below Asha's now fully formed wolf body. His jaws so close to my face I could feel the heat of his breath as he snarled down at me, I wasn't afraid of him, it wasn't me this attack was for.

'Please, just stop this.' I sounded hoarse, like I needed a drink. 'Why are you fighting all the time?' I directed my question to Asha, pushing at his neck to put space between his teeth and my face, as Penteluck gave Mum a hand to her feet, looking over at me with saddened eyes.

Asha shifted back. I stared a sleepy eyed glare at him.

'Listen,' I began, 'I know the spell kinda didn't work or anything, and you're probably only gonna be able to keep human form longest during school hours. But if you want to leave...' I looked away, the idea of him leaving ached inside me. At one point he had been my best friend, long ago.

'Yes, maybe that would be for the best.' Mum interrupted. 'It seems you no longer appreciate our hospitality.' Her eyes bore into Asha, hard and full of spite, but I could still detect the subtle fear there.

'No.' He looked at me. What was that look he was giving me? 'I won't leave you.' He shot a pissed off glare at Mum.

I rubbed my eyes as I let out a yawn, stretching my arms up, pain shot down my neck and sides. I must have slept funny. I took in the situation with eyes more awake, Mum and Penteluck looked guilt ridden, Asha looked... wild, I wasn't much of a heavy sleeper normally, but apparently I had slept through an epic argument in my own room.

'Can someone fill me in with why you all look angry and...' My eyes went back to Asha, unable to understand his body language, or his facial expressions. '...Just angry.' I said not really sure how to decipher how he was looking at me. Guilt? Shame? Need? I frowned, wondering again why our connection had never returned.

Asha looked at Mum, her head shook slowly and her eyes held that motherly warning look of "don't you dare." with a tint of pissed off and dangerous.

Penteluck watched him with the same look I suspected Hannibal would gaze at a city full of people, fresh meat.

'Please?' I shuffled to the edge of the bed and stood up, I was surprised anew to see the mark on my arm, showing my ownership of a spirit I had yet to reunite with. It would be pretty crap if even he wanted nothing to do with me. Was I really that worthless? That's embarrassing.

'Now isn't the time.' Mum said, continuing to try stare down Asha. Bringing me out of my self deprecating musing.

It was then that I noticed. Asha, in human form, his body more matured, his muscles toned and shaped, where he was just yesterday leaner, more teen than adult. His baggy pyjama shorts the only clothing he wore exposing his strong legs. 'You grew up?' I said somewhat shocked. His dark brown hair was thick and tousled to his neck. Some rogue hairs danced in front of his face framed with dark lashes and thick dark eyebrows. His jawline was touched with light stubble, and had lost the slight podge on his cheeks.

'The heck?' I asked as I looked down at myself. Unchanged, still a disappointment to society in my oversized night wear and lack of feminine physique.

'I don't think that's important right now.' Asha said, his tone of voice was off, actually since waking up he had been entirely out of character, it's not everyday you wake up to find your wolf bent on ripping your mother's throat out. I mean not that I hadn't wanted to in the past, but it wasn't like I ever planned to follow through with it. I'm not a psycho... yet.