Adjusting the ring on my finger, I took a deep breath and began to read from the Grimiore, reciting the incantation under my breath. Brody stood to the side, watching with an intense gaze. A low hissing began to sound from the pot, the lights flickering for a moment before returning to normal. Brody handed me a vial that contained a few strands of what could only be fur. Adding the strands into the pot, it began to bubble and glow. I felt my power begin to flow into the pot. It felt like icy air flowing from my chest, slowly being suctioned from my lungs, down my arms and out through my fingertips.
When a sudden breeze of warm air blew against me, causing the ends of my hair to blow back, I knew the potion was complete. For a moment it felt like everything had simply stopped and then I was suddenly brought back to reality, standing in the same spot, the liquid in the pot now still.
“Is it done?” Brody asked quietly from behind me.
Nodding, I took a step back and relaxed my shoulders.
Picking up his knife, he popped his knuckles. “Let’s go, then.”
It was nine by the time we left, vials and charms and weapons a flick of the wrist away. Before we left the house, I jotted down the incantation I would need to turn the wolf human. The vial with the reversing potion secured in my pocket. I followed Brody down the street to the back fence of the witch’s house. Almost instantly I felt the dark energy of a violent death, the overwhelming sensation causing me to feel lightheaded. I had to stop and lean against the fence to try and ease the nausea.
“Just breathe, Sel” Brody instructed softly, rubbing my back.
When the lightheadedness had passed, I watched as Brody poured the potion on the ground. Outlines of footprints appeared on the ground, leading away from the house and back to the street. Brody instantly went into hunting mode, his shoulders squared and his jaw tense. He motioned for me to follow. With silent steps, I kept at his heels, following him back to the front I of the house and down the bare street. We passed the boys’ house. I noticed shadows occasionally moving across the curtained windows as we continued moving. I guess I had paused too long to look at the house because Brody had to tug on my arm to get me to keep up.
The tracks led us about fifty feet away from the boys’ house and then straight into the woods. Brody began to move faster, the adrenaline obvious in his aura. For some reason he got pleasure from the idea of the hunt and prey. He enjoyed it while I simply just wanted this over and done with.
We emerged from the thicket of trees into what could only be a clearing. A small lake was the first thing to catch my attention, the moon reflecting off the water beautifully. Just being near a natural body of water calmed my nerves a bit. I estimated we were about two or three miles away from the houses. A breeze made the leaves rustle slightly in the night.
I felt it, a mass of negative energy that made my stomach churn. With a shaky breath, I grabbed Brody’s sleeve. He looked back at me, reading my face with ease. A subtle nod told me he understood.
“This is most likely where he comes when he changes” he mumbled.
“He’s not here right now” I informed him, coming out of the shadows, moving towards the lake.
Crouching down on the edge of the lake, I dipped my fingers into the water, feeling the clean, cool liquid against the warmth of my skin. Brody’s boots crunched against the ground, his shadow appearing on the surface of the water.
“Can’t you just put that reversing potion into the water so next time he drinks, he’ll just shift back to human form?” he questioned.
It’s like he was reading my mind. “I’ll have to make a few adjustments to it.”
“Good that, hurry up though, we don’t know when he’ll be back” he nodded.
The ground I stood on was wet against my shoes. A cool breeze washed over us as I crouched down in the damp soil, sprinkling and mixing the potion with the ground and the water from the lake. Pulling out the sticky note, I began to chant softly under my breath.
Suddenly there was a howl off in the distance, but not too far for a wolf to travel, especially one who had a taste for witches. The sound made a shiver run down my spine as I tried to hurry, beginning to feel the panic creep up in me. Meanwhile, Brody stood behind me, twirling his pocket knife between his fingers.
I huffed, annoyed. “Don’t just stand there, help me.”
“Alright, alright” he grumbled, seeming unfazed by the howls
Reaching down into his boot, he pulled a black flask out. I watched in complete shock that he actually had the decency to do this now of all times. He looked at me after taking a swig.
“Don’t worry, it’s just vodka” he shrugged.
“Damn it, Brody, we don’t have time for this” I groaned.
A low growl stopped me from adding another comment. We both turned around only to be met with glowing yellow eyes glaring at us from the shadow of the trees. I tensed, trying to adjust my ring, but my hands shook to the point where it slipped and fell into the water. Another growl echoed across the lake and a scream broke out around us. My scream…
YOU ARE READING
Instincts - c.h.
Fanfiction"For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack" – R. Kipling When an outsider threatens the people of Harlow, the local wolf pack must agree to work alongside an unusual duo before more innocents are killed or eve...
