Homecoming Queen

One

Two months later...

It'll all get better in time. Those were the words that Ky had said to me since bringing me to this place. Was it really all that easy?

Darkness. It's all I had been surrounded by since then. Ky said I had to be kept hidden, that I was a danger to others until she was certain that I had control. I didn't feel dangerous and I didn't know what she meant by me having control. I felt like I was losing my mind being in isolation. I don't think it will get better in time.

I don't remember who Ky was to me, in fact I don't remember my life before waking up in that enchanted cave. Ky told me she was family, I didn't question it because I felt a bond and like I could trust her. Ky was keeping me someplace underground. She said no one would dare come here because of stories told from hundreds of years ago.

When she first brought me to this place, it looked abandoned for who knows how long. Since we have been underground, Ky has made it her mission to make it a temporary home for us. She let me roam freely underground, but never to the outside world. Then, right before it hits midnight, I have to be locked in one of the many silver cages located in this underground place. It seemed this place was once a night club of some sorts. I don't question Ky anymore about putting me in the cage because when I had asked one time she said it was better for me not to know yet. I never asked her again because again, I felt that I could truly trust her. The strange thing about it is that the second I get put into the cage, I don't remember my time in it. Maybe I fall asleep instantly without realizing it. The only thing I know for sure is that Ky said it was almost time and I was making great progress. I really wanted to get out of this underground place and see the world I had been missing.

Lying on my small wooden bed, I looked down at my left hand and studied the ring I had been staring at since being down here. It was beautiful, with two werewolves embracing the full moon. I had wondered for so many nights of where or who I received it from. Ky said I will learn of it in my own time. It was very frustrating waiting for time, but I could be patient. I was a patient person, that little I knew at least.

"I brought your favorites!" Ky shouted as she had just come back from the outside. She had to provide me with food, clothing, and all my essential needs.

I got off the bed and walked out of our shared room. I looked at the big living area and I was still amazed at how Ky turned it into an actual home, with a kitchen and lounging area in one. I spent all my time here reading books off the multiple bookcases that aligned against the walls. The books are mostly folktales and history about the different creatures such as Lycans and Werewolves, relationships between Witches and Familiars, and even spell books. I've been wondering why these are the only books Ky had down here. They were interesting books and I've wondered if I've ever met any of those creatures before. Ky did tell me she is my Familiar which would make me a Witch, but why didn't I feel... magical?

"Thank god, I'm starving." I said in an exaggerated manner. I sat at our small two-person seating table and grabbed two slices of pizza, five pieces of hot Buffalo wings, four fried cheese sticks, and a vanilla milk shake.

"You weren't kidding." Ky said while she stared at my plates in disbelief.

"Well, you keep me down here starved and bored," I joked.

"I do not!" Ky faked being hurt. "But don't you worry, I also bring good news."

I was biting into a pizza while she spoke and I just nodded my head for her to continue on.

"Well, this is going to be our last night here." She half smiled as I froze and slowly gulped down the food I had in my mouth.

"Really?" I asked softly, not believing her words.

"You will finally remember your time in the cage. We just had to wait for the blood moon for that to happen, which it comes out tonight." Ky's tone then suddenly changed to being more serious. "I don't want you to freak out on what you discover about yourself or we won't be able to leave from here. Do you understand me?"

I nodded my head, "I do." Ky finally smiled fully.

"Okay, now eat up. We have a lot to prepare before midnight."

We discussed throughout lunch of places we would visit. We had to find a way to bring my memories back. Ky was fairly certain she knew who could help, but it would be a far and dangerous journey. We would meet many different people and creatures throughout our travels, and I was actually looking forward to meeting ones that I've read about in the books. When we have my memories back, Ky said the true journey will begin because there was unfinished business left to deal with. I was curious to know what it was.

I counted the days until I would be able to remember everything. I felt deep in my heart a pain that wasn't mine, I was sure of that. How could I have felt pain when I did not remember anything? Looking down at my wolves ring, it calmed me each time the pain arose. Why did I feel this way?

After we each finished packing a small backpack for the start of our travels in the morning, I decided to pass the rest of the time in reading a few passages of one of the books from the book shelves. I grabbed a random book, lied on my bed and began reading. A few hours into the book, I stumbled upon a passage that intrigued me.

Werewolf shapeshifting is primarily done by one's own will. Some may shift uncontrollably, but these shifts are less related to the high full moon and more related to hormones, survival instinct, or other anatomical causes. Many shifters, most commonly Lycans, go their entire lives never knowing what they are. Lycan shifting is an innate ability granted by recessive genetic DNA. If there are no signs of the gene at birth, there's only one other way the gene surfaces throughout the life span: dominant gene becomes dormant.

"So wait, there are people out there that don't even know they are—"

"Amira! It's time," Ky shouted, disrupting my thought.

I looked at the clock on top of my wooden nightstand and it was 11:57pm. I quickly closed the book, left it on top of my bed and ran to the living area where the silver cage stood in a corner.

"I'm ready." I said as I walked to the cage where Ky held it's door open for me.

"Remember, don't freak out. I wouldn't put you in the cage, but I don't know how you'll react. " Ky explained and I nodded, taking my first step into the cage.

Never did I expect what happened next.