A stale breath was expelled from Adrian's chapped lips, drifting outwards in a rotten cloud. Adrian groaned reluctantly, and forced himself off the dew covered ground - his whole body throbbed and ached on a whole new level of discomfort, complaining. His skin was a film of bloody smears and mud clusters, his thick hair knotted and tangled. Looking down, Adrian noticed he was completely exposed to the cold environment - his skin had shrivelled in retaliation.
"Well, now don't you look a mess?"
Adrian immediately covered himself, in shock that he was being watched. Turning to the sound of the voice, a smile exploded on Adrian's face, as he was greeted by Max's reassuring grin. The two brothers shared a masculine embrace, before engaging in conversation.
"I'm sorry I abandoned you all Max. I just needed time to accept what is happening to me. I couldn't risk hurting any of you. Do any of them know about me?"
Max shook his head. "None of them know yet. You will have to face up to this sooner or later - no matter what, we will all support you."
"I know, I will talk to them about it....soon, I promise you."
".....Adrian? What's that behind you?"
On cue, Adrian turned, and lifted a hand to subdue his gag reflex. Just metres away, the body of a deer lay decapitated and disemboweled, the barren ground surrounding it stained a deep crimson. Its glassy eyes stared on helplessly, the last bellow of terror still etched on its bestial face. Comparing the blood on his body with that of the deer, a murderous realisation dawned on Adrian.
"Oh my.....I think I killed it. When I turned into that creature."
"Adrian, you didn't mean to do it......"
Max was interrupted by the contents of Adrian's stomach splattering at his feet - the festering puddle contained undigested chunks of flesh and internal organs. Adrian whimpered, as Max led him away from the carnage.
"Calm down Adrian. Just think.....where did this deer come from?"
Adrian glanced up bewildered. It was common knowledge that there was no creature larger than an insect, or the occasional overconfident bird, living in the forest of Lupinoath.
"Micah...." A subconscious whisper was uttered by Adrian. Perhaps his mysterious mentor had left this unassuming creature here to appease his inner monstrosity.
Max tutted. "Something's not right about him, I get a really bad feeling about Micah. Trust me, keep away Adrian......"
"He knows about the curse Max! He can help us cope! Look, trust me on this one. Now, all I want to do is go home, and have a good long wash, then we can talk about all this."
Max flashed a mischievous smile. "Well, it's a good job I brought you some clothes! Unless you want to walk back into Lupinoath naked that is?"
******
The cold stream water invigorated Alison's body, as the bloody detritus from the night before streamed off her bruised body. A young girl's body lay concealed beneath the blanket Alison had brought - naturally well prepared in life, Alison would always bring supplies to speed up her recovery from the transformation. Now, the simple material intended to provide warmth for the mother of Adrian, Max and Elenor, now spared her eyes from the ordeal of seeing the slaughtered corpse of her unfortunate victim.
This girl was not the first to have encountered Alison in wolf form, and undoubtedly, would not be the last. Any resident of Lupinoath would never dare to enter the woods, but the roaming gypsies did not possess such knowledge. Every so often, Alison would awake after a Cursed Night to discover that she had slain a gypsy child - the mystery in that these children had been tied and gagged, almost in sacrifice. Alison dismissed this (mainly to console herself) as bizarre gypsy tradition.
Alison emerged from the stream, standing completely nude in the distorted morning light. The figure who had been watching took his chance to speak.
"Some things never change. You never could control yourself, could you Alison?"
Alison gasped as she pulled her clothes over herself - she showed a mixed expression of surprise and apprehension, as the figure gestured towards the bloodied blanket behind her.
"Micah? It's been so long!"
"Save the pleasantries Alison, I come with unfortunate news about your children...."
Alison's eyes widened. "If you have harmed them to get back at me, then so help you!"
"No, I wouldn't dream of it!" Micah chuckled and shook his head. "You know that my quandary was with you alone..... Now, it appears that during your last transformation, you infected somebody else with the curse. That somebody else being your son, Adrian."
Alison wailed in despair, a torrent of salty tears washing her cheeks.
"But that means......"
"Yes, he had his first transformation last night. Don't worry yourself, Max is with him."
Alison crumpled to the ground, her mind overflowing with memories and worrying thoughts.
"Why are you here Micah? Is it not bad enough that my son shares the same fate as me? You knew where I was this whole time didn't you?"
Micah nodded sorrowfully, before soothingly placing a hand on Alison's cheek.
"You ran away Alison, you left us. Father and our brother lay dead in the forest, and you disappeared. I could have helped you control yourself, like I have helped Adrian. I cannot help but feel some bitterness....but you are my sister, and I still love you regardless."
As Alison turned to comfort her brother, she realised Micah was already heading away from her.
"Micah, where are you going? We have so much to discuss!"
"Oh, you'll be seeing a lot more of me from now on. Goodbye for now Alison....."
Micah stole off into the trees, as Alison reflected on the ambiguous encounter, and all the old memories that had now resurfaced. As she prepared to dispose of the body, Alison could not repress the pestering sensation that somehow, Micah was formulating sinister plans.
YOU ARE READING
Blood Curse
Horror"By day the lycanthrope retains his human form, but in the light of the full moon he is cursed to walk the earth in the skin of a wolf. His hunger for flesh is insatiable, his speed is incomparable, his cunning is uncontrollable. The curse is passed...
