THE FOREST AROUND ME SPUN and I felt bile burn up my chest and escaped from my mouth. Father stepped behind me as I spewed and started to massage my back but I shrugged him off. What the hell just happened? I looked at the boy's body on the floor. "T-That's a boy." I covered my mouth, feeling another round of the sickness that rushed over me, "Dad that is a boy human?"
"Calm down, Lydia." He warned but I did not take my eyes off of the young boy.
"What does this mean?" I held my head, my heart rate increasing dramatically, "Did I kill him? I-I killed him." I stammered, my hands shaking, "I don't understand. Father, what does this mean?"
"It's nothing, Lydia, you killed another wolf just as I've trained you to do all these years. Soon you will understand. We must return home now."
I shook my head, "This wolf is no wolf. I've never killed a wolf like this before." I'm clueless, did I kill someone?
"Listen to me." He grabbed my wrist, firmly, "This does not make them any less than monsters." His face went serious, a warning that meant not to question him any further. "They mean nothing."
'Wolves are monsters who deserve to be dead.'
That's what I have been told for as long as I've remembered.
***
I washed the blood evident in my palms down the sink, "They're monsters." I said but instead it came out as a question.
I've seen them in action. I've thought the same, they're brutal, bloodthirsty, beasts that show no emotion, but that boy I saw, looked saddened and wronged.
I changed into a silk robe and allowed my curls to air, flowing over my shoulders. I exited my room and went down the hall, stopping in front of his office. I was about to knock but surprisingly met it open. He's expecting me.
He doesn't like me around his research or around him once he is at work. My eyes drifted to all the papers on the entirety of his walls. It consisted of either drawings, notes, or newspaper cut outs. He was at his desk and I saw that he was taking notes on the bottle in front of him that held the compound.
"Is that what you threw on the wolf earlier?"
He lifted it to his eye level and twirled the liquid inside with a wide grin on his face, "Indeed. This is going to kill all those fuckers." He stated, " Once it is completely developed, I'll give it to the world and every wolf that exists will be gone." He sipped on the glass of wine beside him, clearly on the tipsy side. "Crazy right?"
"Crazy." I nodded and took a sip from the alcohol bottle, nerves getting to me.
"Yeah." He trailed off and then tilted his head to me, "There's something on your mind."
I hesitated but I had to get it off my chest, "Why did he look so scared?"
He let out a dragged sigh, "Not this again, Lydia."
"It's only that, what you say I don't understand. He looked so innocent."
He did not take the time to hear me out. He slammed the glass against the desk, which shattered across the floor, "I thought I had already made it clear for you. Or do I have to beat it into you again, when will you get it in your fucking skull." He stood and I subconsciously took a step back.
"I feel as though there's something you are not telling me." I frowned, "You're lying to me—"
He slapped me. It was a head turning slap, his heavy palm against my face causing my cheek to burn and tears to prick at my eyes.
"So you want the truth," He gripped my chin and forced me to look him in the eye. I stared at the scar along his eyebrow that ascended down to his under eye. "This is what a wolf does." He pointed to his eye, "They took everything from us. They took your mother, Lydia." He gritted his teeth, "You've always had a soft mind, it was always a great struggle to discipline, but let me make things clear; do not sympathize with them. Ever. That wolf that you saw is still a monster. Just because you learned an innocent face does not mean innocence. Do not be fooled, girl." He released his grip and returned to his desk
He lied to me but it was to protect me, right?
Maybe he doesn't completely hate me.
I nodded. He was right. I stared at the scar on his eye. He is all I have. No matter his aggressiveness, I can not fend by myself.
I fiddled with my fingers. "Father, what was mother like? I want to remember her." I asked hopefully but just as I expected, he remained silent.
"Go to bed, we have a conference to attend tomorrow." He said, no emotion toward me whatsoever. Simply disregarded my question.
***
The people of Whistle Wood gathered in front of the mayor's institution. Mayor Albert Jones stood at his porch with his head held high, his usual stressed scruff and disheveled hair now well groomed, which meant he was in baring of well news.
"Whistle Wood," He called, fixing the collar of his suit, "I have heard your concerns and as I stand here today, I want to address the number of deaths in the last few days. Everyone, you should understand that there will be deaths, we can only limit them at this point in time. And limiting has been done due to my recent decision to invest in our town's best hunters. It is thanks to these hunters, standing here today that the wolves have become less active. They are becoming afraid and they will stay that way!" Albert bowed his head once applauded. "I would also like to give a special thanks to Flint Miller, a good friend of mine, and your sheriff, for his hard work on protecting Whistle Wood."
My father bowed when he stood next to the mayor.
The town applauded once again.
"And an applause for his beautiful daughter as well," He smiled at me, inviting me to stand beside him, "There is no doubt that Flint has raised a wise woman. Perhaps we can have her on the hunter's force some day. With her agile movements and sharp eyes, she is almost better than most of our men." He humoured.
My father looked at me with a somewhat proud smile. "I may be your sheriff but it is Lydia who has accompanied me with protecting Whistle Wood. She will forever be here to fight against those wolves and I know she will become a great hunter when she is ready."
I knew his message was directed toward our argument yesterday.
Seeing father smile and send compliments to me ever so often made me uncomfortable because it was not something he was fond of, I wasn't even sure he was capable of it. But I knew it was an act he displayed for the people. A perfect father and daughter relationship. But I'm only his proud weapon. He so desperately wants me to become a hunter.
Once the meeting was over, everyone returned to their houses. However my father and Albert remained, sitting to share a bottle of alcohol on the porch.
Albert waved to me, "I hope you don't mind Lydia but your father and I have important business to discuss. However, you're still welcome to join us."
I shook my head, "No, no, please go on. I will be at the liquor store."
I needed answers.