Stormie sat by the window, watching the pumpkin-like a glowing moon. It was cold and dark. Like a cat, she observed the wind slipping through the leaves outside. There were no echoes, no sounds aside from the creek that the phantoms of her fears made. Her sleepless eyes started into the darkness like an owl. And her ears listened to the echoing howl, communicating from the distance.
Stormie's heart gave a tight grip and slumped like a ship into her ribcage. She took her next breath before realizing the tightness in her chest and her hands shivered to a sudden chill that overtook her. Her vision was gone, and ears deaf. Glancing at the midnight moon, she realizes that her hands had gone numb. Glancing at the world around made her sweat. As if they know warmth was what she need, it taunt her. The tears in her mind froze before it could take form. Stuck in place, it iced in silence, like how she was in this doomed place.
'What was that he ate? What if Adrian kills someone?' Stormie pondered, feeling weird.
She snuck into Adrian's room and checked his waste bin for the broken piece of bottle that pierced his skin a day before. The blood was still transparent on it. Stormie had to sneak her way into the secret laboratory to find a solution. Clicking on the remote, she rushed in, hoping no one would find out. Or at least, follow her. Especially Sir Shkodra. He could be a hunting ghost at night.
Going back to the spot, Stormie found the broken tube was still there. She took a piece, looking at it closely with a flashlight at hand. L. B 217.
"What could this mean?" She stepped out of the room before something unexpected happens. Going back to her room, she turned on the laptop, making a video chat with Stella and Helen.
"Calm down, witch!" Helen, a girl with black lipstick and hand chains on her wrist, snapped. Giving Stormie a bitchy face. She was actually a blonde but had dyed her hair black when she was only 10. "What do you mean Adrian is acting weird?"
Helen and Stella, Stormie's friends, usually dress up in Gothic outfits outside school. They refer to themselves as riot girls because of their attitude.
"I told you everything just now. He can see from a distance and now, he eats not just fish but meat. Adrian used to be a vegetarian, now he's not! Doesn't that worry you?"
"Fuck! Your brother is a werewolf!" Helen concluded.
"Adrian can't be a werewolf! My mum would literally freak out if she finds out." Stormie argued. "No one would believe me!"
"It might be strange, but let's face the fact. There are three ways to become a werewolf." Stella cut into the conversation. "First, living in a bloodline of a werewolf family. But there is no transformation until the full moon, which is tomorrow night. So that may not be his case." She took a black nail polish, painting her fingernails. "The second is a werewolf's bite or being scratched by a transformed, or transforming werewolf, but she didn't get bitten, right? Or was she scratched?"
"No... I don't think so." Stormie assumed.
"Good." Helen crushed on the bubble gum in her mouth. "Which brings us to the third case. Infection by the blood. That is what, you witnessed, Storm." She stepped on that test tube?
"How do you know it was werewolf blood?"
"L.B 217?" Stormie reflected, seeing reasons.
"Ugh!" Stella sigh, exasperated. "Lycanthrope blood."
"Yeah, Lycanthrope. From the ancient Greek to the wolf man transformation. Those effect starts immediately after exposure. That is what we are facing. That blood is no ordinary, okay?" Stella went on. "It's Lycanthrope blood."
"Fine, what do I do?" She sighed exasperatedly.
Stella rolled her eyes, blowing lightly on her short fingernails to dry. "Where's Adrian?"
"He's gone to meet this new girl he met here. They are having a dinner date or something." Stormie replied.
"Dinner date? Hell no!"" Stella and Helen snapped.
"What's it? Is anything wrong?"
"You need to stop your brother, Storm! His date is the dinner!" they chorused.
Unsettled, Stormie closed the laptop and put on her black, chunky boots. She snuck out of the empty castle with an old, squeaky bicycle she found in a room next to hers. Luckily enough, Sir Shkodra didn't find out, and Jessica was busy preparing for another date with Jerry Kelmendi. Stormie mounted the bicycle, setting out into the darkness hoping Adrian's date, is still alive.
Maria was awaiting her date. She dressed in a simple, knee-length black dress embroidered with lace and beads. Her wavy, red-ombre hair was held with pins behind her ears with a silver necklace hung to her neck. The pendant had a wolf and a moon. Maria looked simple, as usual. Peeping at the passer-bys, she stood in front of the grocery store, hoping Adrian would come sooner. As it is, she doesn't stay out so late.
Looking through her phone, it was 9:00p.m. Raising her gaze up, her black-dotted eyes met a guy. He stood out in the cloud of fog, approaching her with a swag. His charm was so alluring, Maria didn't recognize him. She wiped off her face to be sure her eyes weren't playing tricks.
"Oh mein Gott!" She strutted in surprise, swallowing hard on her dried throat.
It was Adrian.
He walked up to her, looking so different. Without his reading glasses and baggy clothing, as before. Even his hair style changed. I dressed in a black turtleneck and black pants. His combat boots were one to die for. As he clean he'd his hand above his head, Maria couldn't help feeling lost at his flexing muscles.
"Hello Maria." He began with a firm smile.
She didn't know he was in front of her until she heard him speak.
"Adrian. I.. Is this you? You're looking so different. Is everything alright?" She stammered, still in awe.
"Yes dear, I'm perfect. Just a minor change and come on, I'm still me." Adrian joked and focused his gaze on her. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you." Maria replied, looking away. Adrian grabbed her hands in his.
Just then, Stormie got to the middle of the market. It was just a stone's throw to the front of the grocery store so she could catch up with them..
"Hey Storm! What's up? Have you seen them?" Helen asked, while continuing her video chat on her phone.
"Has she transformed into the beast?" Stella required.
"No, not yet." She shook her head and climbed down from the bicycle.
"So what are they doing?"
"Just chatting."
"Come here." Adrian grabbed her in a side hug as they took a walk. Adrian looked at her hand, then interlocked hers with his.
Maria gazed at him and then blushed.
"What's it?"
"Why do you hold me like this?"
"Like how."
She rolled her eyes at him. "As if... You wouldn't let go of my hand."
"Because won't, Maria. I want you to be by my side for a very long time. I don't know how long." sincerity laced his dark-glittering eyes.
I'm response, Maria placed a hand on her face, secretly blushing. Then she stopped in between.
Adrian frowned, inspecting her. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes. Everything is fine. I'm just a little lost in these."
"What do you mean, lost? You don't like me?" he furrowed, a little disappointed.
"Of not course, I like you. I mean... When we first met you were...."
"Yes, I know. Something in me changed, Maria. I don't know what it is, but. In Wolfsberg, I feel like a new person. I feel strong and alive!" Adrian threw his hands in the air dismissively.
"I still don't understand." She lamented as they took another turn.
"It's like everything is possible. I feel like I can do everything I want and more." Adrian boasted. He jumped and threw his arms high. Climbing the stone walls, Adrian landed on the roof with a suppressed laugh.
"Ach der lieber! Adrian, be careful." Maria spoke haltingly. Looking up at him with fear instead of being impressed.
'What if he slips?' She thought.
Adrian jumped higher and higher, landing on the roofing. I feel strong, Maria. He leaped down in an instant, his fingers adjusting his hair.
"Are you drunk, maybe?"
"No, but should we?"
"No... I don't want to drink." Maria nodded her head listlessly, placing a hand on her forehead.
"Can you hear that?" Adrian muttered, listening to the night silence. He grabbed her right hand and pulled her away, dominantly.
Stormie took a closer view as they ran off into the darkness. Then she looked at her phone.
"What do you see him doing?" Helen frowned.
"Running."
"Then run!" Stella urged. "You mustn't lose them!"
Stormie ran after them and then stopped by a block, not to get caught. She adjusted her hair, watching them closely.
"Do you hear that?" Adrian asked Maria.
"It's quiet." She told him, looking up. At the pitch black sky.
"There's music. Let's go!" He grasped and held her hand in his. Maria stared at him, puzzled at what was going to happen next. Held her hand in his and placed the other to her waist. Adrian spun her around, making her roll forward in her gown.
Before Maria could stop, he held her again, diving with her.
"What are they doing?"
"They're dancing."
"What type of dancing?"
"I don't know. They're so good with each other.... They're just dancing." She reported.
"Come on Storm! That's not dancing. That's luring! Don't you get it? He's luring her to get weak before he feeds on her. Stop him!" Stella exclaimed in a fret.
Stormie ducked and tipped-toed behind them. She was getter closer to Adrian and Maria. Just then, a cold hand grabbed her, pushing her against the bricked wall. It was so sudden, Stormie's vision clouded in fear.
It was red riding hood.