This Isn't Me

Chapter 24

Chapter 24:

Hazel held me in her arms, both of us staring out a window and watching as the dead city suddenly sprang to life, different creatures of hell racing towards the suddenly appearing creatures of The End. I whined, but Hazel shushed me, assuring me we’d be alright. My head snapped towards where the air shifted, Hero standing there, causing me to jump from Hazel’s grip and growl fiercely at him. The hair all over my body seemed to stand on end, and he gave me a sad look.

“Blaze, please.” I barked at him. “Blaze, I need your help.”

“WHY THE HELL SHOULD I HELP YOU?!” I barked. Of course, Hazel was just hearing barking, but Hero was hearing words.

“Because, Jerome and Mitch have been captured and we need to save them.”

“SO WHAT?! THEY’RE PROBABLY FINE!”

“Blaze, if you help us track them down, I’ll dismiss your service and you’ll never have to worry about being a servant ever again.” Hero declared, getting onto his knees in front of me.

“YEAH, WELL I WANT MY MAGIC STILL, I’M FUCKING BADASS WITH YOUR ‘I’LL NEVER DIE’ CHARM!”

“Then you can keep it for all I care, please.” I stopped barking, watching him shocked. Hazel picked me up, petting me.

“I’m so sorry about my dog.” She apologized.

“Blaze, does she even know?” Hero demanded calmly. I whined, pinning my ears to my head. He sighed. “Hazel, that dog of yours is a runaway servant of mine, he’s one of the last living shape shifters to this day in time.” Hazel blinked, and then laughed as if he were kidding. He waited for her to stop. “Blaze, show her you’re just as human as she is. Now.” He ordered, pointing to the ground. I whimpered. “Down boy.” Out of instinct I jumped from her arms; sitting where he was pointing, but then groaned, hit my head on the wall. God damn it Blaze. “Shift.”

“Give it a break; I know this is some sort of joke Hero.” Hazel determined, calming down again. “Come on Blaze; let’s go back to our room.” She turned, walking off, but when she looked over her shoulder to see I wasn’t following, she was surprised. “Blaze?” She asked, giving me a concerned look as she stood where she was. I lied down, covering my face with my paws. “Blaze…?” I got up again, slowly walking towards her, my head down low and my tail between my legs. She’s going to hate me. I glanced back at Hero, but he nodded, meaning I had to do it. I slowly looked back to Hazel.

Her face nearly lost all its color when I went black, and the bone cracking sound didn’t help, neither did the fact that my body was visibly rearranging itself in front of her, my figure only cloaked in black. It doesn’t hurt. When I finished, I stood there, my hands intertwined in front of my stomach as I stared at my feet. No one said anything, but I knew she was there still, as well as Hero. I glanced up to see her face hadn’t changed; she just looked flat out fucking scared.

“Hazel…?” I whispered.

“You just…” She breathed, not finishing. “W-… Who else…?” She didn’t finish that either.