Red Riding Hood

Chapter Thirty Eight

"Eli Belly, wake up" My Dads voice was like music to my ears, no one had called me that in years. Opening my eyes I was in my room in London, Dad sat on the bed beside me, smiling softly. Yet I could see the pain in his eyes and my moment of peace ended. Looking down I was in my pink my little pony pajamas; they were my favorite as a child. The pony had a glitter gel covering the mane and tail, which had excited me more than anything else. Curiously I held out my hands. They were tiny, nowhere near my normal size. Dad watched me amused as if he knew I was working it out.

"It happened didn't it?" I asked in a whisper. I reached out to hug him and he scooped me up putting my in his lap. Despite my childhood size my mind was still that of my nineteen year old self. I didn't want to be here, James needed me. My pack needed me. They weren't mine anymore, what would I be able to offer them as a human anyway. How would things be with my friends?

"No darling. You just keep fighting. You are stronger and braver than I could have imagined" My Dad said softly, gently running his hand up and down my back.

"But my wolf" I leant against his chest for a few minutes letting the sadness sink in. He turned me around to face him, pride in his eyes.

"Do not give up on her so easily Bethy. You are one – your strength is hers. I told you things weren't going to be easy and I am so sorry this is the life you have been given. I love you my baby girl" He pulled me close against him and I hugged him tightly back.

"I love you too Daddy" We were both crying now, my tiny body shaking with sobs as he stood me up. He held my hand as we walked over to the bedroom door.

"I am always with you darling," I nodded at his words, my short dark curls bobbing with the movement.  I felt scared of what was on the other side of the door but I had to open it.  Dropping his hand I reached up to the door and turned the knob....

Falling is a pleasant feeling once you get past the initial fear. I felt as though I was a feather floating on the breeze, with no purpose other than just existing. It was peaceful and I enjoyed the wind ripping through my hair, imagining an eagle soaring through the clouds. As I opened my eyes it all came crashing down.

"Why didn't it work? She shouldn't be able to fight this!!" I heard Sarah's angry screams. I blinked a few more times as the heat of the flames of the fire was to close. Burning wood filled my nose and trying to take a deep breath was pointless as the lower smoldering logs released smoke around me, turning onto my side I rolled away from it, soon throwing up. My wolf was there, holding on by a thread. I felt if I moved to fast it would snap, separating us forever. That wasn't going to happen. Looking around Eric and Freddy still laid motionless in the snow, William was tying Parker up as he seemed to be healing quickly and could easily start to fight back. Before I could register what was happening Finn, Marcus and Margaret appeared and in seeing the dead woman Eileen and Sarah shut up quickly. No one seemed to notice me and feeling drained I started trying to pull myself over to Eric and Fred; I needed to know they were ok. I hadn't got very far when I was yanked upwards, my hair being grabbed as if it was being ripped from my skull. A scream escaped and my attempts at kicking out at whoever was behind me were futile. New pain shot through my skull and I needed it to stop.

"Arg! Let me go!!" I protested screaming again as she yanked me back towards the fire. Turning I found Eileen and in a very unwitch like turn of events; I was looking straight down the barrel of a pistol. In all the craziness of the night a grin broke out on my face and I laughed. It felt good to let go, to flip the switch into insanity. Confusion appeared on her face that soon turned to annoyance and everyone around us froze. My hands fell to my knees and I bent over holding my side, my giggling fit not stopping.

"Please share with us, what is so amusing?" she demanded, her voice cold like the area around us but it didn't stop me, I only laughed harder as tears poured from eyes. My side soon cramped and my laughing turned to a few coughs finally settling me down. I felt better; maybe laughing is a type of medicine.