Eat, I demand.
She smiles but does as she is told before lying down again. I can’t believe the creature let her get so close, never mind that she healed him and he thanked her. All these years, I have been killing any beings that became a threat or got too close. Could I have spared them?
Are we simply all monsters walking through these forests looking for a purpose? Forgotten and cast aside by a world we no longer fit in?
Are you okay? I question worriedly, as I curl around her.
She snuggles closer, and I can tell she is tired by that action, but I wrap around her tighter, keeping her warm as she relaxes. “I’m okay, just tired. I’ve pushed my magic more than I ever have.”
You don’t heal a lot? I inquire in confusion. Surely she must. A power like that is rare, so they must covet it and use it freely.
“No, the queen decides who I may heal. It’s usually only nobles, who never go anywhere or do anything to injure themselves. So I sit dormant…until I sneak away,” she whispers with a giggle, making me want to grin, which undoubtedly comes across wolfishly. “Typically, I go down to the people who need it, and I heal as many as I can, but it got me into trouble…”
I’m sorry, darling.
She sighs, her eyes closing for a moment. “Do you ever feel like your life isn’t your own? That you are simply along for the ride, waiting for something to happen?” Her lashes sweep open before her gaze locks on me with an intensity and knowledge beyond her years, a feeling I have always felt. “I did, so I decided to take control. That’s why I left, to save myself…and to become who I need to be.”
Save yourself from what? Or who?
She closes her eyes again. “Tell me a story,” she whispers sleepily.
A story? I repeat.
She smiles sweetly, tipping up those lips which I wish I could taste and trace with my fingers, her body still glowing slightly from her magic. “A story, any.”
I search for something, anything to tell her. Her eyes crack open, so I huff and just start talking. I am so rough at communicating with another being and acting normal. I hope she doesn’t think I’m strange, because this magical creature’s opinion means more to me than anyone else’s ever has.
Because she’s mine.
There were once seven brothers, all born within seven years of each other. All with different powers. They were gods and born to rule, to create and bring life, and be worshipped. Their titan parents were cruel and hard on the gods, expecting nothing but the best. Even as children, they were sent into war to test their strength, to show the humans and followers what they could do. The tales of their strange abilities became legendary.
The dragon, capable of decimating enemies with his fire. His rage bestowed upon the world.
The vampire, who could drain others of their life force and use it to be stronger, faster, and better. Who could read minds and learn their strategies and use it against them.
The storm master, who could control the weather and the seas. Who could drench them with his anger. Who could sink ships before they even reached the battle, drowning thousands of soldiers.
The wolf…the wolf who controlled the animals. Who called them to his side, capable of changing his form into that of a beast and ripping armies to shreds.
The controller of the sun, capable of burning his enemies. Of spinning gold from objects, of making kings and queens fall at his feet from his brightness.
The changeling, capable of shifting his face and body like others do clothing.
The assassin, skilled in infiltrating anyone or anything and disappearing into the mist as another.
The warlock, who spelled time and space, controlling magic and the universe as easily as he controlled the humans. His hate darkening his soul with each passing day as he pined for his lost love.
Each was so strong, so capable of such feats of impossibilities, they became myths, but all were damaged by losing the only person they ever loved—Lilith.
She gasps, her eyes bright with tears, and I press my nose against her face and lick them away.
A sister to all but the warlock… A promise of what she could have been to him. A love. Their own parents saw that love and deemed it a weakness, something to be destroyed. They killed her, threw her into the flames of hell, while the brothers were helpless to do anything but watch. The warlock tried to pull her free and was burned for it. His brothers dragged him from the flames, and as one, they killed their titan parents, who had betrayed them and broken their hearts for the very last time.
While the Earth continued turning and the years passed, each one went their own way, tired with the world. They were lonely, so they created more of their own kind through blood and magic.
The original seven gods.
The fathers of all monsters.
I hesitate then with the memory of my brothers in my head. I miss them, I miss being a family. I’m so tired of being alone. I wonder where they are and if they still walk this world alone. They are not dead, I can feel that much, but the world has changed so much since I’ve last seen them.
Alejandra’s soft, sleepy voice pulls me from my own musings. “That’s so sad. They sound so very alone. It seems like the deities would bless them with happiness for their sacrifice.”
They did…or they seem to have, I offer as I watch her, not telling her she is my happiness now, my chance at a better life—whether that be from the gods, fate, or what, I don’t care. I just have to be strong enough to take it, and I pray that my brothers are being offered the same.
Mates.
A chance to start again, to recreate a family, to feel love once more. She yawns and snuggles closer, her hand reaching out and covering my paw, sending a bolt of love straight to my heart.
“Good, that’s good. I hope they find the happiness they so clearly seek.”
As do I, darling, as do I.
Alejandra
I wake up with the sun. Slate, my wolf, is snoring softly while wrapped protectively around me. It makes me smile, and I stroke his muzzle as I just let my body awaken and relax for a moment. Something I would have never dared to do before.
His story last night resonates with me. I dreamed all night of a wolf being attacked by a gold-eyed man, and a broken, dark woman as an army of undead came for him. It was very strange. Must be the aftereffects of his story, right? And speaking of those poor gods… I know he was referring to him and his family, it was too personal not to be. He was the wolf, one of the seven brothers.
The father of monsters, he called himself.
He’s had to walk the world alone for so long, without even them at his side. No one is able to understand the duty and pressure of being born a god. I can’t even imagine, but I want to. I want to bring the wolf happiness if I can, he deserves it, but he’s stuck in this form. There has to be a way we can change that. I will find it, it is the least I can do in return for everything he’s done for me. He put himself in harm’s way more than once to help me, and if the fae learned he helped me, he would die.
No, I have to free him, and then possibly…possibly he could come with me as I find my destiny? We could journey together, at least for a while. Neither of us would be alone, and it would be nice to have someone with me, discovering this world once again.
I need to use the bathroom, but I don’t want to wake him, so I try to slither from his grasp. Of course his eyes snap open, locking onto me.