The Shadow's Heir

This is my life

Will stopped in front of an old book shop. The whole place looked like it was about to fall apart. The bricks have dulled to a murky brown, the wooden frames around the door and windows had rotted, and the sign was in need of a fresh coat of paint. It looked sadder than the orphanage in paris. Crap! I haven't sent the children back a letter!

Will pushed open the door and stood aside, allowing me to walk through first. I gingerly stepped into the shop, afraid of falling through the floor. The inside looked just as sad. The wooden bookshelves looked like they would fall apart any second, spider webs occupied every corner of the ceiling and dust covered every surface.

"Oh mon diue." (oh my god)

"English please."

"Oh don't be rude William! Where are your manners?" said a delicate, high pitched voice. A short, plump woman stepped out from behind a bookshelf.

"I'm sorry about him, he's not much of a gentleman you see?"

"Oh I don't know, he doesn't seem to bad." I said, winking at Will. His cheeks turned a soft shade of pink before it quickly disappeared. After raising an eyebrow at Will, the short woman continued, "Well, it's not often that he brings company. How can I help you?"

"Well I was kinda hoping you could tell me."

"I beg your pardon?"

Will quickly jumped in, "Miss Valcourt seems to be.. In a way.. Associated with the local pack and got into a bit of a.. Situation last night."

"What kind of a situation?"

"One that I've never been involved in. It was crazy." I chipped in. I didn't like the way they were talking about me as if I wasn't standing right there.

"Yes, it wasn't something she's use to."

I began to grow impatient. "You know what, stop dancing around what happened to me last night. C'este ma vie." (This is my life)

"English, please."

"No, Will. She's right." The short woman turned to me. "Please, tell me what happened."

I recounted the events of last night, every single detail, right down to when I woke up.. Minus me being in Will's bed, naked.

"Since last night.. It's like my senses have been heightened."

Will stared at me harshly, his blue eyes piercing my soul, "You never told me this."

"I didn't realise that I had to tell you everything about me." I snapped back. Will clamped his mouth shut and moved his eyes down to his shoes. Usually I'd feel bad, but, for some reason, I'd felt different.

"Hmm.. Well, it seems that you've come to the right place Miss Valcourt. Follow me."

"Thank you. Please, call me Angeline."

"Of course. Oh how rude of me. My names Caroline." She replied, extending her hand towards me. I gladly took it and followed her into the back of the shop, with Will silently following us.

....

There were shelf after shelf of books, all the way to the back wall. I stood behind Caroline, unsure of what was meant to happen now. Caroline tapped a number of bricks, like she was performing some kind of musical tune, then she stepped back and waited patiently. After a few moments, she performed the tune again, and again nothing happened. Caroline let out a sigh, "Henry must have forgotten to clean the clogs again."

This time, she knocked on the wall.

"Henry! Could you be so kind as to opening the door way please?"

I felt my eyes widen, this lady was as crazy as I was. I shot a glance at Will, he brought me here, so maybe he was crazy too? Maybe we've caught some kind of illness and we're having delusions? I about to officially believe that we were all mad when the bricks began to move and shuffle themselves around, revealing a door way, like in the first Harry Potter movie. This time, both my eyes and mouth were wide open.

"Come along. We have much to discuss Mis Angeline."

Caroline began to move down the corridor that the wall had opened to. I couldn't follow her, even if I wanted to, my feet were rooted to the floor. Something seemed very strange about that corridor, as weird as it might sound - but it's starting to sound pretty normal now - I could smell something really strange, it was tickling my nose. Like when you feel like your gonna sneeze but you just can't.

"Come one she walks a lot faster than you think." Will mumbled as he walked past me and through the open space. When he realised that I hadn't moved, he came back to the doorway and looked at me, with perhaps a hint of concern?

"Are you ok?"

I shook my head, "I.. I don't think I can go down there."

"Why not? You afraid of the dark or something?" He asked mockingly. My eyes narrowed and my hands turned into fists, I felt a small pain in my jaw. He held up his hands, "Hey, relax, I was joking. Come on, it leads to a large room, you'll be fine."

"I'm not going."

"Angeline, don't be difficult."

I felt a growl echo from my throat, "Je suis Mlle Valcourt pour vous." (I'm Miss Valcourt to you.)

Felt my incisors extend as I spoke. Will took a step back, "Caroline. You need to come back here. Now."

The tickling sensation got worse, for some reason, I felt threatened. Caroline returned, with a man who was the total opposite of her. He was about six foot tall and thin. Caroline stepped in front of Will, what ever that smell was, she reeked of it. I took a step back.

"My dear, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"What are you? What is this place?"

"Calm down. What's bothering you?"

I shook my head, I could feel my spine cracking, same as the night before, only not as severe.

"It's happening again."

"What is?"

I put my hands to my head, my mind began to pound, I squeezed my eyes shut. I heard Will speak, "Caroline, get back. Now."

I opened my eyes and looked at them, no longer able to form words with my mouth. The rest of my bones began crack and transform. For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, I screamed.