The Monster Within - Book 1

Chapter 15

The evening after arriving home, I walk around the house, not knowing what to do with myself. I just felt at a lose of what to do. I knew I wasn't in any frame of mind to do some work, so in the end I settle for binge watching friends whilst I cry into a sofa cushion that smelt of nan. By the time the sun had gone down, that cushion was saturated with tears. When the little message popped up on the TV to ask if I was still watching I decided bed was probably a better option then staring mindlessly at the TV. I don't know how long I laid in that bed, tossing and turning unable to find a sweet escape from my reality. I tried counting sheep. I tried lying perfectly still, but nothing helped. Maybe a bath will?

The water trickles through my fingers as I check the temperature of the running taps. Whilst the tub fills, I pour some coconut scented oils into the bath, hoping to soothe my nerves and help me sleep. The sweet, fruity aroma fills the room as I take my dress off, throwing it to the floor, followed by my underwear. I dip my toe into the warm liquid as I slowly lower my body in the water, feeling instantly better as the heat starts to work wonders.

As I lay down in the tub, I let the coconut scented fragrance invade my senses as I reach for a bottle of raspberry body wash. I spurt the pink solution onto my hand and start to work it into my skin, starting with one arm and following along the top of my body. I take a deep breath in as I let my worries seep out of me, as I bring a sponge up to my chest, working the gel into a bubbly lather. I run the sponge up one arm, starting with the tips of my fingers, bringing it up towards my collar bone. As I repeat the action on the other hand I feel a weird stinging sensation at the tips of my fingers. I bring the hand close to my face to examine it, not seeing anything and as the pain disappears I think nothing more of it. I continue with the sponge up the other arm when the unpleasant feeling comes back again. I bring my hand up to my face again, keeping it there, waiting for the pain to return and it does. I've never experienced anything like it before. The pain builds, getting worse with every passing second as I struggle to understand what is happening. The skin at the tips of my fingers look normal, but the pain emanating from there is anything but. Then suddenly without any further warning the tips of my fingers rips open as talon like claws tear through. I let out a scream of horror as black claws, 2 inches long now protrude from my skin, with blood seeping down my arm, dripping into my bath water. Slowly white fur starts to spread from the claws, down my arms, toward my body. I scratch at the fur as it advances, trying to stop it from taking over my body. Then a whole new world of pain starts as my back starts to arch, sending bath water cascading over the side of the tub. Then as I thrash around in pain I see him, Apollo, standing at the edge of the room.

'Help me.' I growl through the pain to him.

'I can't.'

'Call someone... an ambulance.' I beg through clenched teeth.

'I can't.' He repeats.

I let out a roar of pain, unable to deal with it anymore. I want to die. 

'Kill me.' I say to him, pleading for it to end.

'Don't fight it, let it happen.' He encourages, taking a step closer to me, gripping the end of the bath tub in his hand.

'I can't do this.' I cry.

'You can Cassandra.' He replies, placing a hand on mine, as I grasp the side to stop myself from being submerged under the water.

'What's happening to me?' I manage to force out, despite the pain.

'What was always meant to happen.'

'What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Please just tell me.' 

'A king needs a queen and now I have you. You'll be mine in this way and in the wolf you'll become.'

Then the pain stops.

'A wolf? I'm becoming a wolf?'

'Yes, mine, as you were promised to me a long time ago. I have been sleeping waiting for you to come back and now you have returned to me, we will be together.'

'How is this happening?'

He looks down to the floor as if he struggling to find the words to speak next.

'I saw you in the woods... I... I just needed you.'

'You attacked me? You bite me and did this to me?'

'Yes.' He admits, with no hesitation.

Then the pain starts again. I grab the side of the bath and try to climb out, dropping my body onto the cold, tiled floor. A searing pain shoots up my spine, forcing me onto all fours.

'Don't fight it.' He whispers into my ear as he climbs onto the floor next to me.

'You did this.' I growl, feeling my blood boil.

He doesn't say anything as I look up at him. The emotionless expression on his face tells me he's not sorry. He did what he wanted for his own needs.

'Tomorrow.' He says, placing a hand on my face.

Then the pain is gone again.

'What?' I say, still looking at him.

'It will happen tomorrow.'

I look down at my hands supporting my weight on the floor and the claws are gone. The white fur has been replaced by my normal skin. The pain in my back has gone. I look down my naked body and everything is as it should be.

'But... I... I don't understand.' I say, pushing myself up onto my knees.

I look over his body, only just noticing for the first time he's wearing clothes. Black jeans, black shoes and a black crew neck t-shirt.

'You're wearing clothes?' I say more as a statement then a question, causing him to chuckle a little.

'Time for bed.' He replies. 'Now wake up.'

As he commands I wake with a start, splashing water over the side of the bath, as I find myself back in the warm liquid. I let out a big breath, realising I'd fallen asleep in the bath and none of it was real. But it felt real. So real.

'It was just a  dream.' I say to myself. 'Just a dream.' I repeat as I feel a tingle at the tip of my fingers, which quickly goes away never to return... That night.