Sinister IncantationAurelia RothchildThere is a legend my grandma always tells me."Werewolves," She smiles knowingly, her gentle touch at the top of my head makes my eyes droop. Any time, I'll be sleeping like a baby in her arms again.I was ten, and by that time, I had noticed that she always repeats one specific story every full moon. I never understood why, but I didn't ask. I was just thankful she wasn't like my parents, stoic and cold. At least, my grandma tells me stories at bedtime. Although, I wasn't so sure if they were real or not."Suppose you meet one of them," She pinched my nose gently, making me scrunch my nose though I was barely conscious. "Running is the best option.""Running?" I frowned, half-asleep, my head bobbing up and down in my grandmother's chest. "I hate running. What if I get tired?""Then, I guess you have to choose your other option.""Yes, please. Anything but running.""Well then, you have to tame the wolf."Was it mere coincidence that this memory popped into my mind the moment our eyes met?The stranger who just saved me minutes ago seemed to vanish. It felt like he was a totally different person now. His eyes were much intense gold, like a raging blaze of sun, his claws way sharper it could tear my skin apart, his fangs deadly like that of a beast. And his hair. It was golden blonde a while ago, like a prince who appeared to save the day, but it shifted into a raven black hair, ominous, full of danger.That's it. I no longer care.I'm running away."Where are you going? Wanna play hide and seek?" His rough voice was taunting, and as soon as I heard it, I was certain he wasn't the same man who was trying to climb down the building next to me. I started sprinting, I didn't know where to, but at the very least far away from that man.The cold wind was enough to make me shiver. I was barefoot, something I had never done before. Having no shiny footwear is like a shame for me, much more than having no footwear at all, the hem of my gown unevenly torn. It made me feel naked, alone, and helpless in the middle of nowhere with a dangerous man.Why does his aura change so fast? Does he have some issue with his brain?! Is he mad?!My breathing was already ragged when I saw that it was a full moon. I suddenly thought of my grandmother: her warmth, the feeling of safety in her arms, her stories.Her stories.Why did I just remember her stories now? It's been so long. And yet...And yet, something tells me those stories are more than just tales.But my mind went blank when a sudden force pushed me towards a nearby wall. I screamed at the top of my lungs, my throat burning, my eyes dilated as I felt something in my back cracking.W-was it my bones? My spine?"Where are you going?" He whispered.The next thing I knew, he was strangling me in my neck, his grip was so tight there was no air to breathe. I started choking to death."I thought you care for him," He mumbled, his golden slit eyes following my gaze while I try to loosen his grip using both of my hands. It's futile. He's too strong. I have been trained for instances like this. I have experience in combat. But I have never encountered this much strength. It renders you helpless."Why? Do I scare you?" He grinned, his fangs showing at the edge of his lips. "No longer care, I suppose?"For some reason, my eyes darted into the huge full moon in the night sky. Maybe, I was trying to search for anyone or just, anything to help me. But more than that, it seems like it was calling my attention. Like a clue to how I can survive the night. Like an eye watching me. A huge mysterious eye that suddenly made me recall the story of my grandmother.Same old story. It never dies.I had always kept them in my heart, although my parents told me it was all gibberish. Just some made-up folklore by elderlies who love to scare children to put them to sleep.But maybe... just maybe,it could help me stay alive. Just for the night.There wasn't much time to idle. I had no time to think straight. All I could think of was I needed to survive by any possible means. I have to live. So much for all that running away. This should not be the edge of my freedom. I won't allow it."Focus on the rhythm of your heart. Listen carefully, and slowly, and forget everything that scared you. Imagine you are safe, harmless, and let the rhythm in your heart flow in harmony with your body, then chant these words..."It was a full moon. And just like grandmother said, the time to chant the most sinister incantation.With my remaining strength, I tried loosening his grip."What? Want to say your last words?" And with that, he loosens the grip, just enough for the minimum air to enter my lungs,just enough to speak a few words that I chose to gamble my life with."Se echo magepsei soma kai psychi,"His eyebrows knitted; his pupils shook. But I gave him no time to strangle me again, I spouted the words like lightning, fast, clear, as if the words were already embedded in my tongue and all I had to do was say it."Tha eisai sklavos mou kai mono ego tha borousa na sikoso aftin tin katara!"I waitedand waited,and waited.But nothing happened.Was I only delusional? Are they only made up? Did I just foolishly believe some unknown words would save me from my demise?!Shame on me! I want to scream! I want to let it all out and just rage with madness but there was no energy left on me. For the first time in my life, my cold demeanor was shattered to pieces and I felt utterly disappointed. To the world, to my family, to this man,to myself.The stranger growled in a low tone. His eyes shooting daggers on me. If looks could kill I would be the coldest corpse right now."What did you just say, human?"He raised his claws, and I shut my eyes tight, tears started falling from my cheeks because it felt so unfair. All I did was just try. I haven't even started trying to learn about my newfound freedom. Like a toddler, I haven't even been able to learn how to properly walk on my own! How could this be the end?! How could I meet an end so cold and lonely?"How dare you use a curse on me?!"My eyes shot open. And instead of trying to kill me,the stranger just... he just-...He pulled me into the warmest hug I've ever felt that night.