Everything felt so familiar, yet so different. I spun around and took in every inch of my surroundings. I knew I was dreaming, but aren't you supposed to have some control? I tried to take a step forward and failed. I started speaking, but it wasn't me doing so.
"Where is he?"
I sounded so different, as if I was in control, and my voice was much deeper, almost familiar. Three people walked forward. Someone was in chains behind them, a very tall figure. They pulled the hood off and I felt sick. It was Carlos. Deja vu anyone?
"Good, bring him forward." The voice belonged to Koi
The men walked forward with him. Koi put his hand up and they undid the chains. Carlos surged forward, teeth bared with his hand pulled back for a punch. Koi held his hand out as if to stop him and boomed.
"STAND."
Carlos stopped immediately, he had a brief flash of confusion hit him before he stood at attention like a soldier awaiting orders. I was suddenly pulled from my position inside Koi's perspective, I was now standing beside Carlos looking at a very satisfied Alpha.
"How did she react? I can only imagine she was pained seeing him change."
I felt like this was in the past but Carlos was free and roaming around the forest not too long ago, unless I've been asleep for much longer than I thought. He walked over to Carlos and put his hand on his cheek, like he was trying to comfort him.
"I'm very sorry for your situation, but this is what is needed, you will be cared for if you listen very carefully."
Carlos made a low growl. The Alpha frowned slightly before continuing.
"You will help me gain the girl's trust, you're her best friend, she will listen to you without a doubt, I will reward you with freedom from this monstrous form."
Carlos snapped and forced his body to take orders from himself, he scratched Koi across the face before he went rigid and dropped his arm back down. Koi didn't even flinch. Carlos let out another very threatening growl. At least Carlos still cares, I would've gladly given up my location if he was turned back.
"Very well boy, you should only hope that Charlotte finds a way to help you herself, you will roam this world as a monster, feasting on the innocent, LEAVE."
Carlos looked scared, he clearly didn't want that fate, and I certainly wouldn't blame him. He looked down defeatedly and then ran past him, shoving him very hard on the way, and then he was gone.
The scene changed suddenly, I was now standing in a tree next to Carlos, I followed his gaze and looked down to see myself sitting on a rock above a small pond, this was where I last saw him. Carlos moved and I watched as my head jerked around to see him perched on the branch. I reached out to try and touch Carlos but my hand went right through him.
"Carlos?"
I turned to look at myself, it was weird hearing my voice come from myself this way, thank the Goddess I'm not a singer.
Carlos hopped down soundlessly and I followed, I was now standing a little away from them. I took the time to properly view Carlos, he was so beautiful even in this form, but still so terrifying and powerful looking. He started to take slow steps towards me, well other me, in the same slow and gentle movement as before.
"It's ok, come here." My voice was a soft coo, like a mother calling her scared child. I watched as she lifted her hand for him. He hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching out and making contact, he took a step closer and she threw herself at him. This time I could actually see what he made out of this whole situation, his face changed to a soft smile, then his mood changed to something like a mother whose favourite vase had been broken. He picked her up and walked over to the rock, hanging his legs over the side. She wriggled and he pulled her tighter, growling protectively in her ear.
"Carlos please, I'm not going anywhere."
Reluctantly he loosened up a bit, she faced him and cupped his face with her hands before pecking him on the nose. His face fell and I felt heartbroken all over again, no matter what it took, I was going to learn how to change him back.
"Hey it's going to be ok, I'll help you, after everything you've done for me, I'm going to bring you back and take you back to Miriam I promise."
I knew there was more but I couldn't stand to watch anymore. To my surprise it worked, I felt myself waking up as the sounds around me started to focus. I was no longer being carried, it felt like I was in another cart. I was sitting on something warm, my best bet was that it was probably Koi, I wanted to be sick. He seemed to notice my movement as he pulled my chin to face him. I was too tired to pull back or do anything so I just put a frown on my face, he chuckled and moved a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I know you probably hate me and as much as I hate to admit it, I expected it. Just give this a chance."
"I'd rather kill myself."
He sighed and pulled me closer to him, at least he was very comfortable. I tried to reach my hand up to push him away but nothing seemed to answer my commands. I started to panic, had he paralysed me? When he saw that my breathing had sped up he rubbed my back and started cooing sweet words to me.
"Hey shh it's ok, this is temporary so you wouldn't run away."
"For how long?!"
"As long as I choose."
"CHOOSE NOW!"
He didn't say anything for a bit, I tried to move my head so I could look at him but it felt so heavy, I just slumped. He cupped my face and did it for me. I was about to speak but he leant down and kissed me softly. It felt amazing, but at the same time, I felt what I'm going to call my monster surge forward. I didn't have the strength to fight it so I let it happen, hoping that it would rip open his throat, he pulled back and watched as It came through. To my disappointment I was still in control of my mind and body, but I could actually move now. He growled and pulled me down firmly on his lap before wrapping his arms tightly around me, it felt quite nice. Shut up Charlie.
"You will learn to love him, he has his reasons and you have yours. You will find your answers in him." A voice called through me, I looked around me and came to the conclusion that it might have been Elsie ranting about how she wants her mate.
"Wrong!" Guess not
"Who is that?"
"I'm what you called 'my monster'" What now, I just wanna have a long nap and forget about all of this.
"Learn to love him, give him a chance to explain."
"I-"
Before I had enough time to respond I heard a weird nose come from my temporary chair, or what you guys might call Koi. I looked up at him annoyed for ruining my conversation but his back arched and wings came through his back, I heard a loud rip as I watched the remains of his shirt fall to the floor of the cart. I sat there and looked at him expectantly before huffing out;
"I thought the end of the world would've been more entertaining."
Everyone around us gasped, I think I did myself at my new found confidence. He looked down at me, his eyes were still normal, but instead of his irises being pine green they were laced with slithers of black, it looked kinda cool. He pushed off the floor and looked around at his crew with me in his arms.
"Continue to the destination and let me know if you have any complications."
"Yes Alpha."
He took off into the air and I screamed before he covered my mouth. I licked his hand and he pulled it away.
"Ew."
"Put me down."
"Ok"
I looked up at him startled before he dropped me from however many feet we were in the air. He slowed down the beat of his wings before voluntarily plummeting towards the ground. It took me far too long to realise I had wings, I desperately tried to turn myself so I was in a suitable position, but instead I started spinning. I probably looked something like toothless when hiccup fell off in httyd. I tried to think about how birds fly. I looked down and saw I had a long tail, my wings were much larger than a birds because they had to take the full weight of me, but even then, bird bones are hollow to allow them flight, does this transformation change that as well? Fuck it I though. I opened my wings, parachute logic I'll call it, however much like parachutes, the sudden catch of wind caused my body to jerk upright and stop midfall. I coughed feeling winded. Without realising it I started flapping my wings, it felt like an involuntary movement now, like breathing. I was also shaking. A lot.
"Hey! You did it."
Oh yeah great! I saved myself from a death that you nearly caused. I looked at him, mouth agape as he glided effortlessly towards me.
"What was that?"
He grabbed me and pulled me down. I tried to wriggle out but he had an iron-like grip. He stopped before placing me safely on the ground. I collapsed and hugged the ground, the lovely, safe, solid ground.
"Oh my god I'm never leaving the ground ever again."
"I'm afraid that's a lie."
"Oh piss off prude, that was terrifying."
I pushed off the ground and stumbled, it felt like I was learning to walk all over again, flying now felt natural. I spread my wings out to steady myself. I looked around for him and found him perched on a rock. He stood to his full height and I had to say, I was in awe, he looked magical. His wings made him look like an angel, a dark angel. His tail was swishing behind him gently, his body has obviously gotten used to this much easier than mine has.
"This should be a lot of fun sweetheart, you have a lot to learn."