Black Riding hood: A tail of twisted Betrayal.

Black Riding Hood - 3

Wolf pulled his lips back into a smile, his teeth bare. I ran my fingers along them, They were cold, hard and hallow. I traced designs along Wolf's fangs. You know that voice that screams at you inside of your head, telling you something is a bad idea? Well times those annoying shouts by ten and you'll be tuning into the chaotic radio that is my inner voice.

"Little Red, Do you really want to know what I am?" He asked, his eyes focused on my head. I glanced up and met his eyes. "You might not like my answer," He warned me. I should've listened, honestly. To save myself from confusion.

"Don't doubt me, I've been to hell and back. I can handle knowing what the dog playing in my back yard is." I retorted. Wolf laughed, amusement shining in those yellow orbs of is. He sat back on his haunches and patted the space next to his right with his tail.

"Then sit. You obviously have questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability." I sat next to him, my body stiffening in shock at the cold feeling of the soulless snow underneath me. "Fire away, I have time." He spoke softly, as if I were a child.

"What are you, Wolf?" Wolf turned his head towards me, his massive snout just inches from the top of my head. He offered me a faint smile.

"I am death, I am life. I am both human and animal. I am future, past and present. I am beginning and end. You see, Red. I've lived thousands of years and yet I have lived none. Every second we speak, I kill, and I birth. I can control everything and I can control nothing." My brows furrowed and I'm sure my confusion shined in my eyes. Wolf smiled softly at me, giving me a gentle lick on the head. "You'll see, Dear."

"Wolf, What is your name?" I asked, scooting closer to him for warmth. The winter snow shot down from the sky quickly, and it was piling high all around us, as if an avalanche of rocks were falling on me and I would be stuck here for eternity.

"Daimonikós," He replied quietly. He seemed oddly uncomfortable speaking his own name. It was like he knew it was his, but he didn't own it. Clutching my cloak tighter around my waist. I smiled at Wolf, and stroked his side gently.

"Wold you prefer me call you Wolf?" I asked.

Wolf only lifted his skull towards the sky, studying the night fields.

"It's getting late, Let's pick some of those Shadeberries you wanted and get you home."

"I'm not in a hurry to get home, Wolf."

"No matter, I have things to do and I can't do them if I'm making sure you aren't picked off by coyotes." Giving him a glare, I grabbed my basket. Wolf lowered himself in a crouch. "Climb on, I go faster then you humans." Clutching his fur in tight fists, I pulled myself onto Wolf's back.

"You said yourself that you were a human."

"Ah, but I'm animal as well."

"True, I suppose."

Wolf took off, sprinting through the forest so quickly I couldn't tell if we were actually moving or if the world was speeding away from us. At one point, I swear we merged into shadows. I had to clutch Wolf tightly. Ten minutes later, Wolf skidded to a stop next to a Shadeberry orchard.

"We're here." He crouched down and let me off of his back, then stood up and shook out his pelt. I hugged wolf tightly. I walked up to a shadeberry bush and picked the blue black berries and tossed them softly into my basket, careful only to pick the ones that were ripe. Once I had enough to bake a pie and a little extra for a snack, I tore some of the leaves off the vines. What's good about shadeberry vines is the leaves are perfect for spider's. The Spider's make their webs and once the spider's die the leaves absorb the web and become silky.

I peeled the leaves into strips, and tied them together. Then, I tapped Wolf's paw. He looked down at me in confusion, and I laughed quietly.

"Lift your leg up."

Doing as I asked, Wolf pulled his leg from the snow. I took his paw and fit the large bracelet around his paw. "Now you're my wolf."

Wolf licked my forehead tenderly, "And you'll be my lion."

Once I finished, I climbed back on Wolf's back and he took off, We traveled far, I could tell, But it didn't take long for us to get to where we were going. He skidded to a stop at the edge of the forest. "Here we are, Red," He crouched down and let me off, and then turned towards me. "Let me know when you finish that pie."

And that I did.

I woke up the next morning to snow covering my window. My room was completely dark and I had to fumble around the room until I found the light switch. I flipped the light on and opened my window. Last night I kept hearing this scratching noise and it was really disturbing me. I looked out and I immediately knew what the noise was. Wolf said he sent Emerald home, but she didn't have a way inside. She must of been left all night. When I looked closer, I saw she was covered in Wolf's fur. He must of kept her safe last night.

Walking down stairs, I pulled open the door and was greeted by a viciously cold gust of wind. Emerald rushed inside and I picked her up, dusting snow off of her. She clung to me, shivering like a terrified animal. I got my cloak from the coat hanger and draped it around her. "Sh, It's okay." I cooed to her. I quietly closed the door and took her into the living room. I lied her next to the stone fireplace. I placed my hand on the ledge and sighed. Cold. Just like every other thing in this damned place. I picked up the fire and placed it in the fire pit, then light a match and burned the fire. I leaned against the wall, my head in my hands. I had a serious headache today. I scanned the room for Grandmother, Hopefully she was sober today. Realizing it was just me and Emerald, I slide the metal door in front of the fireplace and took off up the stairs.

I cringed as the steps creaked under my feet. Although I'm sure she didn't hear them, They sounded like loud screams in agony. We really needed to get them fixed, one of these days the wood's going to completely rot and one of us is going to fall through and break something. Once I got to the top of the stairs, I looked around at the hideous navy walls. We only kept them this color because it was mother's favorite. My eyes fluttered to the photograph on the wall. It was of me, my mom and Grandmother, before she became a drunk. Thinking about it now, My mother's death ruined this place. The entire house sunk into the deep dark depths of Depression. It was like a starving demon, Once it had the chance, it struck and captured us in it's claws. Luckily, I escaped. But Grandmother was eaten. It took over her and now all she does it sleep and throw things and beat on me. Letting out an exhausted sigh, I kept moving, the floorboards screeching in protest.

I approached Grandmother's door. The wood had been painted a heart breaking dark brown, I pushed the door slightly ajar, and the door creaked open. I scanned the room for Grandmother, but found nothing. Her bed sheets were disheveled and her lights were on. I peered outside and noticed her car was gone, She must of left for work. Grandmother didn't really have a job, she was a bartender at this shitty bar named the Stamp. They named it Stamp after some famous guy who went there and bought a drink. I guess it was a big deal in town.

I rushed to the window, and noticed that our shitty little car had left and a grin broke out onto my face. Free for the day. Free of the hitting, Free of the smacking, Free of the cussing, Free of the screaming. For once, I was free of the pain. I dashed to my room, grabbed my CD player and turned up my music as loud as I could. I was positive the entire forest could hear me. I bolted downstairs and began cleaning. I grabbed the trashcan, A small box shaped bin with cheap bags that always tore inside. I threw all the alcohol bottles in the trash, Humming to the song playing. I started with the couch, tossing empty bottles of Budweiser and cans of Budlite. I noticed the room was getting a bit colder, so I put more wood in the fireplace and prodded it a little. Then, I picked up Emerald, Who was now fast asleep, and placed her own the couch, tucked under my cloak.

I noticed a strange stain on the couch, it was dark brown and smelled terrible. "Grandmother.." I muttered to myself. This had to be puke. Gross. I grabbed stain remover and paper towels, pulled my night black hair into a ponytail, and then crouched down, getting to work on the stain. I scrubbed for an hour and a half before the stain came out. Finally, once it had gone, I sat back on the couch and lied my head on the back, kicking my feet up on the black coffee table.

A/N- I'll add more tomorrow, For the moment, This it it. Listen to the song on the side. Picture of Wolf is over there. I'll post a picture of Red next chapter.