Amber Waves of Angst

Chapter 8

Laurie took three running steps and expertly used the springboard to launch herself up to the horizontal bar. She gained momentum with a practiced kick of her legs and spun around several times before about-facing and propelling herself to the higher bar. A few more spins later and she was perched on the top where she did an impromptu pole-walk before dropping back down and reversing her routine, performing one final mid-air somersault and landing neatly on her feet with no sign strain. Coach Mirov clapped softly before going over the new routine she wanted the team to perform at the next competition with Red Falls High.

"I have taught here for nearly twenty-five years, and only one other has matched your skill. Your namesake would be very proud!" she said in her thick Slavic accent when they were done.

"You knew her?" Laurie asked, excitement in her voice.

"Yes. I was able to see her briefly when she returned, before she was...I am sorry. What happened must be painful for you to hear." The kind blue eyes in the wrinkled face closed briefly as she mourned the loss of her old student. The coach ran a hand through her white hair, which was still shot through with gold. She must have been a beauty back in the day.

"I never knew my mother, I just have some old pictures. I heard...that she had a relationship with Adrian Harris, that they were really in love. The other day I found a heart carved into an old tree with their initials. I would love to know more about her, but my Dad..."

"His grief was powerful, even more than when he first lost his family in the fire. Ah! Such misfortune in your family! I visited his uncle in the hospital before he disappeared, but his spirit was gone. I lost my own family under Ceaucescu's regime in the old country; no one should have to bear that much grief. I am thankful that your other father survived the attack by that madman Porlock. But your mother... she was in love with Adrian, and he with her. I do not know why they separated...perhaps he discovered she was one of the vroloka."

Laurie froze. She recognized the word from the book Erik was reading in the library that day. It was the Slavic word for werewolf.

"You...you know what we are?" she asked.

Coach Mirov tilted her head. "I know who you are. You are Laurie Hale, a fine gymnast, and daughter of one I loved as my own child."

"I'm having a hard time with it. I didn't know until a month ago." Laurie searched the woman's face for any sign of fear, and found none.

"It is different, but I believe that vroloka are part of the natural order. Perhaps their purpose is lost to time; man has never learned to accept those who are different. Do you fear the wolf? You should not; all men have a beast within them, vroloka are just able to let it out. Whether you use it for good or ill tells the most about you. Your mother... was so dear to me; to think that I have outlived her causes me nothing but pain. She was meant for a greater destiny."

"That's just it; I feel like it's changing me! It...affects my thoughts, my feelings! I never wanted this! It's not fair!" Laurie turned away, tears threatening to fall from her shining eyes.

Coach Mirov was startled that Laurie was so upset, and felt ashamed at being the cause. "Laurie, I am no vroloka, but I have known more than a few both here and back in my homeland. The wolf is a powerful force, and it is well for you that you respect that power. From what I know, it is a part of you. Its anger is your anger; its love is your love...just more powerful. Anyone can lose themselves to powerful feelings, it is no different for you. Some vroloka...have given themselves over to their anger and hatred...but that is the sin of the man, not the beast. This is true, no?"

Laurie nodded, thinking of Peter Hale.

"Have you ever done or said something when you were angry that you regretted later?" the Coach continued.