Hunger

“Wake up…” a voice whispered in her ear, but she cozied up and nuzzled into the pillow, remaining asleep.

“Grace…” the voice whispered to her once more, but she ignored it all the same.

“WAKE UP!” The voice barked and she jumped up from her sleep, slamming her forehead into the side of a man’s head. A grunt followed by a thud and a mutual “ouchhh” were the sounds of a peaceful morning.

“Ayaya! Garett? What’s wrong…”

“With you!” He called out sarcastically. “Why you gotta headbutt me?”

There was a momentary pause while the two continued to rub the spots on their heads where they butted heads.

“You’re the one yelling at me!” She whimpered out in her defense, rubbing her forehead. “What’s up?”

“We’re late…” Garett whispered, rubbing the side of his head as he got up off the floor and winced from pain.

“Ahh… did I sleep through the alarm again?” She inquired, looking around with a hint of confusion, trying to focus her sleepy vision on a clock on the wall. She thought it read 9:00 but in reality, it read 11:45.

“I’m… it’s not even that late.”

Garett cleared his throat. “We ought to leave in 30… Get up sunshine.” He offered his hand to her with a playful grin. She took it with no hesitation, a couple of blinks later she finally managed to focus on the clock, and as soon as she saw real-time, she leaped off the bed, landing on his feet.

“WE’RE LATE.” She shouted.

Garett pulled back, wincing from her shout.

“Yes… I told you that… No worries though, they know you like to sleep in, just like…” he gasped as she shoved him with a surprising amount of force out of the way. The air rushed out of his lungs when he landed on the bed. He headed to the kitchen to quickly make her a simple breakfast while waiting for her to get out of the shower and join him for a quick breakfast. She emerged with her hair dripping wet.

He sighed at the sight. “Grace…”

She sat down, grabbed a warm pancake, and stuffed it in her mouth. A confused glance at him and a “hmm?” were an indication enough to him that she wasn’t going to do anything about it.

“Nothing…” he replied softly and left the kitchen just to return a moment later with a towel. While she stuffed her mouth with pancakes like a hungry beast that hadn’t been fed in days, he gently wrapped the towel around her hair, rubbing it and drying it out, at least partly.

“Mmhhh…” a soft moan escaped her lips as she leaned back.

“Thank you, love.” She whispered.

He glanced down at her with a smile.

“You’re a clumsy sleepyhead, but I would be nothing without you.”

She smiled, childlike. Soft and genuine. Reaching up with her hands for his, she caressed his strong hands as he wiped her hair.

“So, what’s on the agenda?” Grace inquired curiously.

Garett pondered for a moment.

“Your sister’s birthday party starts at 3, before then we gotta grab the gift from the carpenter. Then…” he paused. “Your father wants to take us duck-hunting in the evening…”

She caressed his hands for a while longer, and as he pulled back she sighed.

“I know you hate the hunts… but he just wants to get closer to you and Stan…” her voice soft and pleading. “Just, enjoy the company and nature.”

He smiled weakly at her, scanning her up and down. Her day dress was quite pleasant to the eye. It was pastel beige in color. Simple yet elegant.

“Yea. Ready?”

She grabbed a cup filled with steaming warm brown liquid and chugged it, leaving a trace of hot chocolate at the corner of her lips.

“Yeah!” She slammed the cup down and grinned, getting up from her seat. He approached her, taking her chin into a gentle grasp he leaned in for a kiss. Brushing his lips against hers before pulling her into a gentle kiss. After the kiss he licked his lips and grinned.

“Delicious.”

She chuckled. “Glad you enjoyed.”

They ventured out. A horse-cart ride later, and they arrived at the carpenter. Sil welcomed them into his shop and went to fetch the order. Returning with a mirror in a gorgeous, hand-carved wooden frame. It was oval, with shapes of tree branches snaking around the perimeter of it. But what caught Grace’s attention the most were the shapes of wolves, 2 of them to be precise, that decorated the bottom part of the mirror’s frame. At the top, in the center, the shape of the moon sat, and the wolves howled at it. She smiled, tracing the incredible handy work with her fingers.

“Whoa… spectacular! Aria’s gonna howl when she sees it.”

Garret grinned. “Yeah… That she will.”

He glanced at Grace with a sly grin.

“I know she loves canines and wolves.”

Grace nodded, returning the mirror.

“She will adore this gift. It’ll be very personal.”

He nodded. “Mhmm.”

Upon paying for the gift and packing it away so as not to break it, they returned to the cart that awaited them outside and headed out to Grace’s family estate that was at the edge of town.

The family gathered and food was had, along with some of the region’s finest wines. Celebrations were coming to an end and Aria went through her gifts at last. A horse from her father, a reliable, strong steed. A pair of earrings and some other, various jewelry. Mostly average gifts for a lesser noble family. But when she unpacked the mirror, she gasped, marveling at the handywork. It was to her taste, and she hung it in her room the same instant.

Later that night the men departed on the duck-hunt, hosted by Clark, Grace’s father. And during the hunt, a strange topic arose.

“You lads heard of the sightings?” Clark asked of the three young men accompanying him, Stan, Garett, and the butler of their family – Joseph.

“Sightings?” Inquired Stan. “You mean the strange beast that was seen by the guards the other night?”

“Aye, that the one.” Clark continued.

“Supposedly it stalked these very forests…” He knelt down, tracing a footprint in the mud. The hounds sniffed the air, alert.

Garett cocked his rifle.

“Clark… it’s awfully quiet here.” He said, slowly approaching the man from behind, gun at the ready. He peered over Clark’s shoulder to see a footprint of a deer. Clark smirked and turned around suddenly.

“BOO!” He shouted.

Garett gasped, taking a hasty step back, tripping over a rock. He fell onto the muddy path. The men all had a hearty laugh. The rest of the evening went uneventfully, as the men tried to prank and spook each other with tales and rumors, and not a single duck was hurt that night, but they had a great evening all the same.

The same night, something strange happened. The horses were making a lot of noise. The chickens were in disarray. Keeping the family awake. Something lurked in the shadows, something bothered the animals. They assumed it to be a stray coyote, or a fox even, but the predator stalked the shadows all night.

Days passed, as did the weeks. Grace’s hunger in the mornings was insatiable, but Garett took good care of her. One evening, Aria was in the town, shopping, when at the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of Garett, taking a confident turn into the back alleys. She was a well-known nosy cat, and so her curiosity got the best of her. She followed him through the winding alleyways. The sun was setting, painting the stone streets in golden hues. She followed him from afar until her stalking led her to an abandoned warehouse. She did not dare sneak in through the door he had entered through, for it made an awful lot of noise. And it was neither ladylike to stalk the fiancé of her sister, nor did it seem like a good idea to get caught doing so.

She snuck around the side and peeked through a few dusty, painted windows. It was dark inside, and the painted windows made it even harder to see anything. She lurked for a while before stumbling upon a half-open window. She pried it open quietly and climbed through. Carefully watching her step. The musty stench in the warehouse made her stomach turn, and the old scar on her hand itch. It was a somewhat familiar and memorable stench of stale air, and… dogs. The stench of the fur of dozens of dogs. She shuddered, rubbing the scar on her left hand, memories of the most terrifying night in her life flooding her mind, rushing in like a waterfall. She shook her head, dismissing them. It was a night of early spring, when beasts are hungry from winter and seek to ravage and hunt.

On that night, a pack of wolves surrounded her, a silly child that had run off into the forest to pick the first flowers of the spring, the life of the forest. She was delighted to gather a bouquet, but less so delighted when she found a pack of them circling her. She took a deep breath, clearing her mind and focusing her gaze on the darkness before her. The warehouse was seemingly empty, and deadly quiet. Every step echoed and sent shivers down her spine.

Still she pressed on. Curious as to why her sister’s fiancé would go to such a place. He was, to the best of her memories, a doctor and a researcher. A thought bubbled up in her mind ‘What if he’s doing something illegal? Drugs? Or experiments?’ but she was quick to dismiss her doubts and concerns, for Garret had always been a well-behaved man with good manners and reputation.

After stumbling in the dark for a while, she discovered a staircase leading down. She followed it, to her surprise, into a well-lit room, decorated in manners a chemist’s office might be. The shelves were lined with various chemicals in flasks and beakers. The room was empty, except for a faint sound of steady breathing further in. She stepped onto the carpeted floor and let out a soft sigh of relief. At last, her steps were masked and quiet. The stench of dogs lingered in the air. She furrowed her nose, holding back a sneeze. The table had several candles lit around it, illuminating a notebook, and one was set to boiling liquid in a beaker. She approached curiously, glancing at the notebook. It was a logbook, a diary of sorts.

Day 24, the transformation remains uncontrollable and unpredictable. The patient turns seemingly at random in the dead of night. Brewing stronger sedatives to keep the creature asleep through the night.

She flipped a few pages back.

Day 17, the creature awoke despite sedation and escaped. Town Guard’s bells were heard ringing. Presumably, she was spotted. Did not attack me this time. The familiarity of her own scent seems to work. Further testing is required. 

She shuddered, reading the notes. The scar itched even harder this time. She grasped her arm, squeezing the scar.

“What in the hells…” She whispered under her breath. The sound of a snort followed by a huff caught her attention. Her gaze darted to the back of the room where a sturdy-looking door separated the well-lit, homely-feeling office, from whatever was on the other side. She snuck toward it, curious and foolishly brave. As she neared the door she heard his voice, Garret’s. He was talking to someone in a mellow tone.

“Fear not my love, we’ll learn to control it together.” But his comment was answered by a growl, an inhumane growl, and then she heard hurried steps toward the door. Her heart sank. Anxiety and fear took over momentarily and she froze in place long enough to scan her surroundings and find a hiding spot. She stepped to the right, off the carpet, and into the shadow that was cast by a half-height wall and ducked. The door squeaked open and a man stepped through it, accompanied by a stench of dogs, so strong it almost made her gag. He hurriedly walked past, oblivious to the intruder. She remained silent, enshrouded by the shadows, holding her hands over her mouth to keep quiet. She heard a clang, and then some shuffling and rustling. And then he went back into the mysterious room. Growls and screeches were soon replaced by whimpers, and shortly after the rhythmic sounds of breathing returned. Heavy, but steady. He returned to his room, sat down and jotted down some notes. Occasionally conversing with himself. “Did not expect that a mere scratch with the lycan’s blood would turn her into a full-on beast.” He commented to himself.

“I wonder… If her sister turns too, would they recognize each other? Form a pact?”

Aria’s eyes widened, listening to his monologue, and the rhythmic tapping of his finger on his desk.

“I want to try it…” He concluded.

She struggled to remain silent, but succeeded, nonetheless.

An hour or so later he left at last, as oblivious to the intrusion as he initially was. She waited a while longer until the sound of his footsteps disappeared, and shortly after a loud slam of the metallic warehouse doors echoed through the otherwise abandoned and empty space.

When she was sure he was gone, she came out of her hiding, into a now dark room. A single candle remained lit, flickering weakly on the table behind her. She eyed the sturdy door for a long while, contemplating if she dared to open it or not. Fear, and anger, the two mixed into a violent storm of emotions within her and stirred. She slowly pushed the deadbolt, unlocking the door, behind which she presumed a horror she would regret seeing, was hidden. The door creaked open and her eyes, adjusted to the dark, scanned the room. It had a single, barred window in the corner, through which the silver light of the moon shone. To the side a single bed sat, and upon it lay a creature that was not her sister. It was a marvelous but terrifying beast.

She ran. The dawn broke and with it, the news came. Grace awoke in the warm, loving embrace of her fiancé. His fingers combed through her hair as hurried and impatient pounding on their door reminded them that they apparently had no time for cuddles this fine morning.

She sleepily groaned, glancing at the clock to see it showed 11:10’ish. Weakly she pushed herself up on the bed. Garret’s hand trailed off her hair and down her back, caressing her.

“I’ll get it…” he mumbled sleepily.

She yawned in response. “ayaya… no cuddles and no prepared breakfast… I’m starving!” She claimed, glancing hungrily at him. She seemingly sniffed the air and then licked her lips. “Make me something sweet?”

He gulped. Smiling nervously at her. “Yeah… I will, love. Go see what kind of crazy mailman it is…”

She got off the bed and threw her bathrobe on. Making her way to the door, just to open it to a surprise. Behind the door stood her sister, accompanied by her husband Stan. She smiled sweetly at her.

“Grace! Oh lovely seeing you!” She stepped up and wrapped her arms around her sister’s neck, pulling her into an inconspicuous hug.

Grace was taken aback.

“Ayaa… Ari, what was with all that pounding?”

Aria grinned cheekily.

“I know you’re a sleepy head. Had to make sure you heard me.”

Stan shuffled behind her, somewhat uncomfortably, but Grace didn’t notice it, she was far too sleepy to pay attention to anyone other than her sister who was being clingy first thing in the morning. Aria had always been simple minded, so as per usual, she invited herself in, pushed Grace aside after the hug and entered. Garret, who had by now been in the kitchen, shouted.

“Aria, Stan, breakfast in 10!”

Stan entered behind her somewhat cautiously. They awaited at the dining table for Grace to return after getting changed. What surprised them the most was her seemingly insatiable hunger. She downed easily double of what you’d expect of a girl her size.

“Sis… you’re hungry as a beast.” Aria remarked.

“I feel like one!” Grace commented, half jokingly. “I could eat a cow I swear. Or at least feels like it sometimes.”

Garret smirked but remained silent. Aria’s following remark made him choke on his coffee.

“Are you two expecting? Would explain the hunger…”

“No! No no.. I don’t think so…?” Garret asked with a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

Grace rubbed her stomach and smirked.

“Maybe a little pup is growing….”

Aria’s jaw dropped open, and then Grace grinned.

“Ayaya… I’m just kidding you idiots. I’m not pregnant, just hungry as a wolf.”

“Ain’t that the truth…” Aria responded sarcastically, glaring at Garret who caught her glance and stared back.

“Sometimes hunger can’t be explained, other times it could be due to a medical condition, or a mental state.”

Grace shrugged. “Maybe I just dreamed of something delicious.”

Aria shot a glance at her and then returned her peering gaze to Garret.

“I believe that…”

Garret swallowed audibly.

“So, what brings you here so early?”

Stan bobbed his head at the clock.

“Almost noon isn’t early.”

“Guess they were busy last night, doing the unthinkable! How inappropriate…”

Aria smirked. “I wanted to invite Grace on a little trip me and mother had planned. A trip to Lac Bleu.”

“Oh? A family vacation? Sounds delightful!” Grace nodded eagerly. “When are we departing?” She suddenly paused. “Oh, but… Garret may not be able to go, the clinic has been quite busy.”

Aria nodded. “That is fine, mother wants just us, and aunties. Just the girls, few nights out, on the lake.”

Garret cleared his throat, protesting. “I, don’t think that is the best. Grace has been having… troubles sleeping lately.”

“Oh that’s fine. Fresh air will do her good then. Away from the city’s business, and the stench of it all… The rot of the city really makes the brain rot.” She grinned playfully at Garret.

“Yeah!” Grace replied, oblivious to the threat she herself possessed to those around her, and the threat that Garret possessed to her family.

“No, I fear it might worsen her condition.” He continued to protest.

“You reckon?” Aria tilted her head to the side. “Then… perhaps you got some medicine we could take with us on the trip?” Aria asked.

“Uhm… perhaps.” Garret replied nervously, anxiously tapping his finger on the table in the same rhythmic manner he did so before. Aria watched his finger with a smirk.

“Garret… do you know what our aunties are famous for?”

His eyes shot open. He glanced at her anxiously.

“What..?”

She smirked. “Oh I don’t know either. Some say they’re witches, some proclaim them to be the greatest doctors… Some say they brew potions and others that they make poisons. Who knows.” She smirked. “I’m just kidding!!! Relax. We’ll be fine, it’ll be fun.” She lied. It won’t be fine, not for him. Little did Garret know that he would be the duck in the coming days.

The family trip went well, better than expected. Although what happened at the lake, remained at the lake. But the curse was lifted, or perhaps, put under control. Garret was never heard from anymore. Although heartbroken for a while, Grace remained oblivious to the threat she once posed to those around her. She ultimately found a new man, worthy of her hand. A lesser noble that cared well for her.

Audience prompts for this tale

• I would like to see a shapeshifter unaware of his abilities!

• I want a love story! all gooey and sickingly sweet, no murder!

• I’d like…a brave character with a scar.  Someone who isn’t afraid of showing the marks of their past.

• A conflict between two sisters!