Falling Feathers Book I - Rogue Without Fear

Chapter IX

>>> Autumn Rose <<<
"Someone hold her down."  He commanded.  Immediately I panicked.  Why would I need to be held down?  In an attempt to calm myself, I realized he didn't order it until I said I would join. It can't be anything too bad, they're not killing me.
Two people came to me.  One of them gripped my right arm firmly to my body.  The other took my left arm and held it forward.  He held my arm out, my inner-arm facing up.  I didn't move, I left myself to be pushed and held by them.  Even though I was afraid something dangerous was happening, a feeling inside me told me that this was all going to be fine.  I felt like I was surrounded by family friends.  I don't know any of these people, I shouldn't even trust them at all.  I told myself.  They killed my parents, after all!  Yet, for some reason I couldn't explain, something deep inside my conscience relaxed me, and I didn't fight back.
The figure from before stepped towards me, and reached into his cloak.  He pulled out a knife, causing my uneasiness to surface again. I thought they weren't going to kill me. What does he possibly need a knife for? The steel glinted, just for a moment, as he raised the knife.
"On the full moon," he began, studying the blade as he spoke, "something inside us changes.  We grow more powerful.  We change, to a creature that resembles us for who we are - majesty, power, fear.  We are freed from our human bonds to become another.  A wolf."  He took the knife in his left hand. Then, he took a deep breath, and made a swift motion on his right hand.  I flinched, watching his hand start to bleed slowly.  He then turned to me, watching me with an animal-like expression.  He looked almost like a dog would, when it was closing in on the fox den.  He reached out and took my left hand.  I didn't move away or draw back.  I just watched, and waited for him to do what I knew must be coming.
His hands were soft, but firm.  To much of my discomfort, even though he was close to me, I couldn't see his face.  I wanted to know who this man was.  His voice - I'd heard his voice here, and somewhere else.  I knew it was familiar, I knew it!  Is it Soren?  I thought for a moment.  No, Soren was different then this man.  This fellow was slightly taller than Soren, not by much, but taller none the less.
"This might hurt," he warned.  He took the knife and cut my left hand in the same swift motion.  I bit my lip to refrain from yelling out in pain.  He watched me, as if he was waiting for the pain to settle.  Slowly, it did.  The pain began to ease away.  I nodded that I was ready to proceed.
"This will mark the start of a new life.  From this night forth, you will be our sister, our kin."  He proclaimed.  He took my left hand in his right, and pressed them together.  My hand began to burn like it was on fire.  I thought of my parents once more.  Burning, burning in the cottage...  No.  I won't remember them any longer.  They are behind me, I will move on now.  This is a new beginning of a new life.  I told myself. I was quickly awoken from my memories by the burning in my hand.  It began to spread up my arm, to my chest, down my legs, to my other arm and hand.  It spread everywhere.  Finally, it crept up to my head.  He released my hand.  I felt so warm and heated, surely I was sweating by then.  I knew what was happening.  I was changing.  I was someone - or something - else. The sensation began to calm, but my hand still felt warm.
"Welcome Autumn," He murmured, "to the life of a werewolf."  My stomach did a loop.  A werewolf?
"In the beginning, things will be a bit odd for you.  As a werewolf we have stronger senses, quicker reflexes, and we're stronger physically.  For the first month or so, everything will be out of balance.  However, by the next full moon, most of this will be more normal and calm.  It is essential that you tell no one of this.  They don't understand us.  They see us as monsters, and threats.  You breathe a word to a living soul, and we will end you.  Many others have suffered that fate, it would be a pity to make you one of them too."  They're werewolves, not just thieves.  I realised.  The people who killed my parents were werewolves.  My stomach turned over again.  I am a werewolf...
"For now, I advise you to rest." Another spoke, the voice I recognized from last time I was captured. "Return to the inn and sleep. In three days, someone will show you the way here, and how to enter. But for now, there is one more thing that must be done..."