Of Shadow and Death

Chapter Twenty: Of Honesty And Transformation

"Be sure to tell your son not to take my friend far. I plan on leaving this place immediately after I speak to your leader." Evette said quietly, her head tilted upward to look into Collin's eyes. She saw something flash behind his orbs before he scoffed openly.

"A mute is no son of mine. You'd be wise to not assume things as preposterous as that." He warned, and Evette realized that she shouldn't have assumed that young Jamie was Collin's boy. She frowned, saddened by his reaction to her assumption.

"I understand that you're bitter, but you could at least try to be nicer to those who are like you. Show a fellow beast some kindness." Eve nodded toward Jamie, just before he disappeared down the corridor, her attention never leaving the man who looked down at her, his lips curling into a smile.

"I have. I ordered my nephew to care for him, and I will allow your friend to complete his transition." He maliciously leaned even closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I have been kind to a fellow beast."

Evette felt her stomach churn, and her body stir without even realizing. She looked over her shoulder to find Jade standing quietly. Something told her to believe Collin, but she did not want to. She did not want to think about Narcisse experiencing the same pain the wolves had. Images of the blood, and flesh, and death, all flashed before her eyes like a motion picture that was too gruesome and unholy to think of. It was there, it was still fresh in her mind as she looked up at Jade, the memory of sharp claws scratching and scraping against the cell bars also too close for any sort of comfort.

She had faced challenges, but this, this was different. It may have been the evil gleam in Collin's eyes, or the look of confirmation and concern on Jade's face. It could have very well been the lack of food and water in her system, or a mixture of all of those things, and more. When situations got tough, Eve allowed the anger and hurt to fuel her and push her to stay standing, but now, it had the opposite effect. Her body was tired of being worked up, and pushed passed its limits. It was tired of feeling the darkness and adrenaline collide. The wings were too much; they were a sudden change that shocked her body to no end. The pain was present, emotionally and physically. She wanted to hug someone, to cry on their shoulder and let the world crash around her like waves. It was all she ever wanted, and all she ever needed— a hand to hold, and someone to confide in. Eve told strangers details about recent events, but those details were only miniscule. They weren't the pain she felt inside, or the plethora of emotions she felt every single second of every day. Where her troubles started was not important, where they ended was what mattered. That ending was nowhere in sight; it seemed so far off that it could not have possibly been anywhere on the vast horizon. The stories Eve told were petty, and surface level, and in no way similar to the tales she wanted to tell. She was surprised by how far she would go to find someone to confide in. How far she would be willing to go to find any sort of love.

Eve had always been drawn to dark things. As of late, she found that the darkness held even more beauty than it had before. She was no stranger to the thought of death, or the thought of wishing death on another. The wolves frightened her, but she held more of a craving for blood than they had. The deeper psychological struggles she faced could not be compared to the curse of the full moon.

She had not yet allowed herself to realize how deeply rooted her dark cravings really were. Until Evette could admit that she needed help, no help would come for her. No angelic armored knight would ride to her rescue, and no human man would love her back to life. She was on her own, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Above all else, she needed herself. She had to save herself from that fear, and doubt, and darkness she carried with her. It was the only way she could truly be set free.

Eve's wings made an appearance just as her legs became even more wobbly. Jade swooped in and caught her body from falling at the last second. She held unconscious Evette in her arms as she looked up at her uncle, a concerned expression on her face. Her arms gently wrapped around the winged girl who had passed out. "Will he survive the transformation?" Jade asked, referring to the man who had been bitten in the forest.