Chapter 8
"…He tried to speak, but his voice broke into
an echoing howl. His ravening soul infected his jaws;
his murderous longings were turned on the cattle; he still was possessed
by bloodlust. His garments were changed to a shaggy coat and his arms
into legs. He was now transformed into a wolf." A dog boy who looked extremely familiar read to Maris from Ovid's book of metamorphosis. The first story about lycanthropy.
He raised his hands up in the air and drew a sigil as fast as he could before summoning someone who was fit to be a god. Again, they were naked. Maris laid plainly on the drawing and floated in the air with puffs of smoke rushing into her nostrils.
Instantly, Maris gasped, snapping her eyes open with a pounding heart that threatened to burst out of her chest.
"Where am I?" She asked, feeling as if something had used straw to suck out the energy in her.
"My arms." He voiced and that was when she noticed her hands were hanging down the sides of his body. Her legs weren't what was making her move, but his.
Too weak to say anything, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. Just listening to his heart beat.
"What happened to me and why am I so weak?" She managed to ask.
"You blacked out after they fought till death." Logan answered and his chest vibrated underneath Maris. "What are you?"
"You mean who am I?" She questioned and he shrugged.
"Any way you want to put it. I mean, how did you make them act like they were your stringed puppets?" There was amusement in his voice.
"I have no idea." Maris answered and he halted in his tracks.
Gently, he placed her on the floor and her legs felt a little wobbly before it became strong. The placed spun for a bit, causing her to close her eyes.
"What am I now?" Maris directed her gaze to him, still holding her upright. "After the bite."
"One of us," he whispered, his face an ace away from hers.
Her cheeks flushed and she suddenly drowned in the whirlpool of his ocean eyes. His breath fanned her face, sending more heat down her gut. What was this foreign thing she was feeling in her system?
"Us who?" She questioned, hypnotized by his beauty.
"Us." He stepped away from her, spreading his hands wide open and gesturing in front of him. She shook the unusual feeling away and focused to keep her stamina intact.
Suddenly, he looked left and right, front and back before taking two more steps forward. He held a necklace with a red gemstone for pendant above his head. Light from above descended on him and spread north, south, east, and west.
What appeared to be the end of the road opened like a palatial gate. Maris stared in amusement with her jaw scrubbing the floor.
"Wow!" She exclaimed, feeling a rush of energy streaming down her veins.
"Welcome to the Oberon kingdom," Logan said with a smile and Maris mirrored it with one that couldn't be contained. "C'mon."
He gestured for her to join him. She got in and the gate closed with the speed of light. Maris turned to get a glimpse of the gate, but it was no where to be found. All she could see were the beautiful tall trees and birds that flied freely with melodious tunes.
The place was colorful with beautiful shrubs that beautified every path of the land. Butterflies, fruits and beautiful houses welcomed Maris.
People of different shapes and sizes walked about, minding their businesses until the trumpet sounded.
"The prince has returned!" A tall man that could pass for a pole announced, a smile gracing his lips. "Your mom isn't happy about this."
"I can cross the red Sea, trust me." Logan's smile grew wider and they both laughed, giving each other a brotherly hug.
"Is this her?" The tall human asked and Logan nodded with a proud look on his face. "Hi. I'm Mendel. Logan's best friend."
He extended his hand and Maris took it, frowning a little at how rough his palm was. The frown was quickly replaced with a smile.
"I'm Maris and I need your help because he kidnapped me!" Maris joked with some sort of seriousness in it. She was still confused.
What was going on? She was in her office this time yesterday, counseling Jeremy and now she was in some Oberon kingdom with a boy who could transform into a werewolf.
Wait, was Mendel also a werewolf?
She rubbed her eyes, wishing she would wake up with her sheets soaked in her sweat.
People soon gathered around and whispers erupted between them with friendly expressions being thrown at her.
Maris zoned out for a minute, but something caught her attention from the corner of a tall tree. It was a boy, pulling down his pants to urinate. She wasn't meant to be looking at him, but for some reasons, she was.
Nice ass! Her subconscious exclaimed and the chattering of the people seized. All eyes were now glued on her.
Why the hell are they looking at me owlishly? Oof! Now I have to stop staring at his meaty buttocks to avoid coming off as weird.
They all looked like they were about to combust in laughter this time around and it made her very confused. What was so funny?
The strange boy was done urinating so he turned and she took in his features and was marvelled at his structure.
Damn! Is this an island of sexy men or what? Her inner mind spoke out, sounding like a pervert once again. She was beginning to suspect she had a thing for butts.
The people whispered amongst themselves again, grinning like Cheshire cats. The guy who she had been admiring caught her gaze and winked slowly, biting seductively on his bottom lip, earning a disgusting look from Maris.
Euw! Bye pervert! Ugh! Even a bunny's teeth isn't that gigantic.
Abruptly, the people guffawed, their hands on their stomachs as they bent to catch their breaths.
Maris frowned and glanced at her body. Was she looking funny or something?
She turned to view Logan's face and he was the only one not laughing. His jaw was clenched And she feared he was going to break it.
"Why are they lau-" Maris didn't get to ask Logan her question because he walked out with a sour expression.
What's his problem? The voice in her head asked.
"You are." A girl buttered up in simple make up answered, inching close to Maris.
"What do you mean?" Maris knitted her brows into a frown. "How am I his problem?"
"Because you are his lemen." She smiled warmly and Maris frowned even deeper, trying to recall where she had heard that word from.
Wait, how did she know what I had asked in my head? Why does it feel like they can hear my thoughts?
"Because we can." They chorused and Maris turned crimson.
