CHAPTER 6

We ended up making our way to the library. Me up front, Jason in the middle, and Ben at the back. Walking around like he was our prisoner. The library is surrounded by empty books along with bookcases full of them. The computers are so outdated that you have to shovel coal into them just to get them started. The library is the perfect place to get away, people won't listen or bother us as many people never use this place as much. Even the librarian wasn't in there. The only abandoned place with all students either in class or missing. We steadily walk into the back of the library where it is filled with a deeper bookcase like into some maze. We all chucked our bags under the table beneath us. Carefully I pull the grimoire on top of the table and flip to a page that shows the symbol matching Jason's tattoo. I lash out the chair from the table and calmly sit down in front of Jason. Ben wonders throughout the library keeping a lookout for anyone listening. You can never be too careful.

"Okay, we somewhere quiet at least, now talk" I calmly asked as I crossing my arms."Look, I can explain. If we could just go to mine, I can show you everything you need to know" Jason nervously said.

"No, I rather hear you say it right here, right now. I don't trust mutts like you" I said as I leaned over the table to Jason's face.

"hey! I could say the same about you, witch" Jason hissed at me. "Anyway, you're too quick to judge.we all not the same."

"I'm only quick to judge a thing like you," I replied.

"You know, we aren't all as bad as you people put us…" Not all bad my arse I thought. Ben rushed over to us and sat next to me pulling out a chair from the table.

"Hey guys, I set up a quick spell around the library, which allows us to speak freely even if someone walks in, they will just see a couple of students studying together" Ben interrupted.

"Thanks, Ben," I smiled.

" Wow, awesome dude! I would love to be able to do that"

"I know right. So what are you exactly?" ben asked.

"I'm a type of animal shifter. A lycaon." Ben and I look at each other with a confused face. "Lycaon was a king who tried to trick Zeus into eating humans fresh on sacred land. It's what we named after " Jason explained.

"Okay hold on, you telling me that you can transform into an animal or any type of creature?" Ben's eyebrows go up as he questions Jason.

" pretty much yes anything from a wolf, dog, bird basically anything I want," Jason explained pointing at the different parts of his tattoo.

"So wolves? Sound a bit off, especially when there has been a good number of sightings let alone all the murders and disappearances," I mentioned.

"Hold your horses, Iris. my kind has nothing to do with those."

"He might be right. I mean it could be some other kind of wolf. Like an actual wolf. The full moon was out so maybe.." Ben insisted.

"What like a Lycan? A pureblood? Ben last time I checked it was a stupid mutt that ripped out beloved sister to pieces, just like the other ones." I lifted from my chair and swung my bag on my shoulder. "I should know. I was there."

1 YEAR AGO

" So why are we exactly in the woods for this time of night?" I asked Melinda as we tracked along deeper into the woods from the edge of our house with my not-so-less muddy new black boots. The mud slushies and oozes at every forceful step I take as we wander more and more into the woods.

"When I and Nathan were younger. We would travel to the woods, after a stressful week of training. You see the weekend was for doing pretty much anything we want. We used to watch old tribes turn from man to beasts… it was amazing" Melinda explained, dodging past the different size trees.

"Wait you saw werewolves? Wasn't you scared?"

" yeah, Lycans and Of course we were, between you and me. I think Nathan kind of wet his pants when they started howling at the moon but it was different, since the first time I laid my eyes on them I was pretty much obsessed. We have never seen werewolves before only heard of them in bedtime stories or from occasional visitors. There were so many different creatures we saw growing up it would have blown your mind and then after our parents died, we thought it would be much safer if we lived here in the mortal world. It was far too dangerous for all of us."

"What was it like?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, our home?"

" Home was such a beautiful bright place, flowers blossomed everywhere you turned. The animals would run freely; it was quite a peaceful place. Magic always had a way around things. Receiving life to the dead plants. Maybe one day, I and Nathan will take you and Ben back there. Once it's safe" Melinda's voice died off as she finished her sentence.

"Safe?" I asked as I jogged next to her. Suddenly I hear rapid footsteps, rustling leaves. I quickly look around from where the sound came from.

"It doesn't matter right now, Iris. Ermm.." Melinda looks around nervously. "I think you should head back. Actually, I got some more errands to run around here and I should finish quite late tonight."

"But we just got out here, I thought… I thought we were having some girl's time plus won't it be quickies if we work together." I said in confusion. I put my fingers up to indicate speech marks on the girl's time.

" yeah I know but I changed my mind. These woods are not as safe and it is just getting darker. If you go back now you should just be fine getting home." I frowned upon her words. Melinda turns to me "you have homework to do. I just don't want you to fall behind on things at school plus you can catch up on that show you like I even allow you to take those choc chunky cookies I been hiding in the top cupboards '' Melinda passes me a bag full of different types of herbs. "Also , you can take these back and give them to Nathan for me. I still have to get some more for the rest of the month. Go on, now iris."

"Fine sure, whatever but I'm also having that tub of peanut butter Ice cream too," I said as I grabbed the bag from her hand with force "sure thing" Melinda chuckled. I headed off back in the direction toward home. As I walked back, I decided to make my own decision for once and actually see what she doing that she doesn't want me to see. I quickly jumped behind a tree watching Melinda walk-off in the woods even more. I have to follow her, something doesn't seem right with her. She seemed to be acting a bit too weird than usual. I start moving forward, being carefully treading away from noisy branches and leaves. Every time she looks behind,I quickly dive myself behind a tree leaving a good ten steps ahead of me. I follow her like a hunter tracking a deer on a hunt. Eventually, she stopped at a very unattractive tree; with what looks like an old burned-out candle at the bottom of the tree. Red wax dripping and laying on the ground all hardened and solid like something or someone died here a memorial. The tree roots sit above the soft mud. An oddly looking herb sits all in against the tree through its cracks of the bark. I have never seen these kinds before. The herb has these small light violet petals with a dark green bush of leaves surrounded but a thick stem. Flowering like it showing off in a garden show every petal that blossoms is a beautiful soul being reborn into the lonely world with their brothers and sisters beside them.

" Here we go finally! What took you guys to grow? You took forever" Melinda said as she bends down on her knees, grabbing a few handfuls of the violet herbs, and briefly places them in a medium-size cloth-like bag.

" excuse me, madam? You should be aware that you are on private property" said a middle-aged man only a couple of feet behind Melinda. Slowly Melinda stands up and turns to the man, staring right into his eyes. Her expression quickly changes.

"Why don't you go back to whatever hole you came from? You never saw me and I was never here, you hear me?" Melinda smiled as her head started to vibrate into a bright golden yellow light. The man head turns to its side in confusion

"I understand" he replied as he moved away putting Melinda behind his back, he then steadily turned his head toward her.

"The thing is your mind control business don't work on people like me" suddenly his eyes change to a dark ruby style red colour, a slight fang falls from his mouth as he gives a deviant-like smile.

" wait for it… it can't be. It is not even a full moon tonight. I made sure of that." she panicked as she looked up at the starry night sky.

" you're right, my dear but it doesn't work like that anymore for my pack" in an instant, a younger group of men come out behind her and one of the men grabs Melinda's mouth from behind throwing in a black sparkling powder-like substance down her throat. She collapses onto the ground onto her knees. Struggling to breathe. She coughs hard trying to bring it all backup, sticking her fingers in her mouth pulling out some deep dark goo.

"What the hell... Did you… put down my throat?" Melinda croaked. Placing her hands onto her mouth, wiping the leftover substance off her chin. I carry on being still behind the tree just a few metres away from them.

"Shit," I thought " if I go now, I'm sure there will notice someone being here" I looked away from Melinda, thinking of what I could do. "Maybe if I climb the tree I can see what's going on more" I quickly and quietly start climbing up on the tree one step at a time against each bold stable block of bark pulling myself up onto a steady hidden branch

"You could say that be our insurance. I know what you are, my dear. Witches are not my favourite beings and that what you are" the middle-aged man moves upon Melinda sniffing into the air, catching her senses like a bloodhound "you see the substance that my young friend put down your throat is a very old remedy that stops people like you casting those stupid useless spells. You with me, darling?" he said as he kneeled to Melinda, pointing at the man who forced the substance down Melinda's neck. He grabs up onto the edge of her chin. He suddenly started sniffing her hair and flipped it over onto her back showing off her rosy veins pumping through her neck.

" It seems you may be of some use to my alpha. Your little tattoo on your neck I have seen it before"

"Tattoo," I thought "what tattoo? Melinda doesn't have a tattoo. I would've known if she had one she's my sister. What the hell are these guys up to?"

The man starts chuckling loudly.

"Ooh, I know who you are. You definitely come with me, the mast surely gonna like this" he grips at Melinda's arm dragging her forcefully to her feet. Unexpectedly, she grabs open her bag pulling out a fresh stig of what seems to be wolfbane with its broad rounded leaves and bright yellow flowers crush down as thin as a sheet of paper, and shoves it in his face.

" fuck you arsehole. How do you like the taste of that?" Melinda spat her words at him,she pushes away at some men as she tried to run off but another man jumps at her, putting her face down into the wet dirt.

"You stupid bitch. That burns" he coughed heavily. The man's face gives off a gust of steam, the sudden burn marks across his face soon quickly clean up in a flash. "Come here yo…"

"Oh shit. this can't be happening. I have to help. She needs my help" but suddenly my body stops itself from moving. "Why can't I move?" my entire body goes into a complete shock. My heartbeat so fast like a buzzing hummingbird. The only part of my body that can physically move. Then unexpectedly my eyes widened like a barn owl as I watched the middle-aged man swish his arm back, clawing his big sharp nails through the tip of his fingers and swipe across her throat, throwing it a few feet from her. Blood starts forming down her neck and her chest. Her hands stump at her missing throat.

"...why?" slowly Melinda's voice starts to mumble and her head falls roughly into his shoulder as he brings her in closer.

"Alistair sends his regards to you and your family." he moves his arm rapidly from her. Allowing her restless body to drop to the uneven ground. I quickly cover my mouth to hold in my scream. Tears start forming fast down my cheek. I look upon the sky to try to keep away from looking at Melinda's corpse to keep down whatever laying within my stomach. My eyes go blurry for a couple of seconds. I quickly looked down to see they were gone, everyone except Melinda… just her still dead body. I rapidly jump down from the tree and rush over to her body.

"Melinda… please..no Melinda!" I cried as I reach her body, I strumbled away from her, throwing up from all the blood and gore. My breathing gets fast and stuffy feels like someone holding on to it just like Melinda. Somehow I managed to pull myself together for a bit to finally go back to Melinda's cold body. I gently held her up to my chest. Her fresh blood soaks my white top and my hands. I sat with her; still cradling her body for what felt like hours. Quietly sitting. For some reason, I expected that she would move or wake up at any moment but of course, I know that would never happen. No one would survive that. I don't know what to do, it happened so fast. I… I have to find Nathan. I have to tell him about Melinda and someone… Alistair. The name rattles against my head, a name I will never forget. Why didn't I stop it? Or maybe I be just like her, laying there dead, or would I be in her place and she hovering over me crying over my dead body. For a little while longer I somehow managed to gain the courage to get up. I pulled the Melinda bag off of her carefully and pushed in the fallen remaining wolfbane. Nathan, I have to find him. I turned around and started running home as fast as I could. I felt like the woods was watching every move I was making as I skipped over broken trees. In one way or another, I finally reached home as I jumped into the back door. How can I explain all this...