Otherworld

Partners

It took a while for me to learn it wasn't going to happen. There were a lot of rejections. No, she said. It's much too dangerous, she said. That's a huge insult to their race, she'd say. So, I figure I'd sneak out and do it on my own. The biggest issue was how. In my mind, I flipped through the possible candidates I'd be able to trick into letting me 'visit' a werewolf's dimension or whatever. I spent a lot of my time in the library (I slept there often, still unable to find my maid or first lady in waiting or whatever-or my room for that matter). Not that I minded much. Having a bed to sleep on is sweet and all, but there was a reclining chair in a secluded part of the vast library.

I picked up any books I could on werewolves or lycanthropes I could and buckled down. Most were legends and stories and fairy tales. Though I guess since Faeries exist, the idea of these legends being true don't sound as insane as it would if I didn't know. I found out a lot of things I never knew from the movies, and made tons of mental notes. But my on my quest for knowledge the holy grail was where exactly I could find them.

I picked out a leather bound book that looked pretty promising-The Ultimate Guide to Hunting Lycanthropes. I flipped through it, and in huge letters the chapter title Where to Find Such Beasts mentally slapped me. I set down the books I had tucked under my arm and skimmed through until I found something that I could use.

As much as they go for, werewolves and lycanthropes are rather easy to find. The real trouble is how to get their fur relatively intact... 

I rolled my eyes and skimmed a little more, flipping through a few pages.

Werewolves and Lycanthropes are rather easy to locate. As they like to believe they still hold some semblance to their either past human lives or counter parts, they live solely in the Mundane World, among humans, usually in big cities. Most often found in groups or teams-most likely a sports group or team-they never disappoint the saying, 'you can't take the pack out of the wolf, nor the wolf out of the pack'! You know you've found a werewolf or lycanthrope if you follow these simple tests...

I let the book slap down on my lap, stupefied. I laughed at the pure irony of it all. I can't believe the answer was in front of my face the whole time and I never caught on. I got up, forgetting the books momentarily, and ran off, still laughing to myself at how simple it was.

 "No," Able said. "Olivia's going to kill me. Then Aleck's going to kill me. Then Caine's going to kill me because I went somewhere without him knowing, especially with you."

I scowled, disappointed but in no way discouraged. Able was by far my favorite aside from Brandon. I'd frequently bumped into him in the library, and he'd shown that he had some intelligence. Even if he was missing a little more than a few bolts to his control panel, if you know what I mean. He liked to tinker with things-he said he came from the Kingdom of Machina, just east of Eirene, the Kingdom I'm in right now. It's blessed by Hephaestus, he'd said. Everyone there has a small affinity with anything Hepheastus rules over, but he said the Ten Princes of the Court have a strong affinity for their Kingdom's blessing.

I smirked evilly, and Able's face fell. I'd learned his weakness the first time we bumped into each other. I could totally use it anytime I want, too. I grabbed the collar of his black flannel jacket, and lowered his head slowly toward mines. My skin crawled with goosebumps, and my stomach turned. I can't take it any more than he can, but I can hold my disgust as long as I know his secret.

He tried to pull away, wincing when our lips almost met. "Okay! Okay, okay, fine," he hurriedly backed away, rubbing his skin. "Get away!" He jumped away, and I smirked, trying to hold my lunch down (Drake had shown me the way to the dining area).