Monsters Beyond the Gate

Chapter Ten: Wynter's Ice

The sun poured in through the glass windows facing the balcony and assaulted my face. I'd forgotten to shut the curtains.

I sighed, pulling the blanket over my head. I wanted to block out all of the light and go back to sleep, but then I remembered I had something to do. Something important. So, even though I was sore and exhausted, I pulled myself into a sitting position and then mustered the energy to stand up.

The silky nightgown I wore was a little bit too big. The material felt foreign against my skin. I owned nothing like it back at home. Stepmother would have thrown a fit. She insisted such clothing was only for grown women.

The thought made me feel a mixture of guilt and smugness. I walked towards the closet, wondering if there would be fresh clothing inside. To my delight it was filled with various outfits. I settled on a plain gray tee-shirt and a pair of dark slacks. When dressed, I stepped into the bathroom and cringed when I saw my reflection in the mirror.

My eyes were pink and puffy from crying. Dark circles of exhaustion had made their home beneath them. My hair, only half dry, stuck to the side of my face and stood up on the top of my head at wild angles. I did my best to flatten it down with a brush I found in one of the many drawers. Once finished, I made my way downstairs, determined to face the day.

A girl was waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase. She had hair black as night that was short and spiky. Her eyes were a fierce blue and her skin was as pale as fresh snow. Her expression was icy and it emphasized her already sharp features. I briefly wondered if I should try to slip past her without saying anything, but as I closed the space between us she stepped to the center of the last stair, blocking my path.

"Hey," she said, crossing her arms. Her voice was musical, but somehow still threatening.

I studied her more closely. She had a nose piercing and several tattoos on her left arm. She wore mostly black; black leggings, a black hoodie, and gray combat boots. She seemed like the type of person you wanted as a friend rather than an enemy.

"Hi," I replied.

"So, you're the new girl?" she said, raising one of her thin arched eyebrows. She looked me up and down with an unreadable expression.

"It seems so."

She made a little humph noise and then stepped aside so I could finish walking down the stairs.

"I'm Wynter Adams, your trainer."

"Trainer?" I asked, dumbfounded.

She started walking down the hall and I followed her. She was shorter than me, but walked so fast you'd have thought she was six foot five. I had to speed walk to keep up with her.

"Yeah. I heard the Alphena is sending you on a quest to the Mystic Mountains. Something to do with your brother? Honestly, I think it's a waste of time. Our warriors could crush Erebus and his pack if we were just given the chance. They're over confident so they don't train like we do..." She glanced at me as if she'd forgotten I was there. "Sorry, I'm rambling. But, yes, I'm your trainer. If you want to reach those mountains alive you're going to need to be prepared."

I nodded, trying to act like I understood everything she was saying.

"Problem is though you were supposed to make your first change yesterday. If you're really a wolf than you have to make the change by your seventeenth birthday. Unless..." She bit her lower lip and slowed down a little.

"Unless what?" I asked, hoping that she would say there was a chance this was all a huge mistake and I wasn't a wolf at all like everyone claimed I was.