Lucius woke with a splitting headache, as if his mind was cleaved in two. He sprang up, disregarding the pain, and rushed to the mirror.
His abdomen, where the gray wolf's claws had torn through his clothes, showed no sign of injury. No wound, no scar.
Confusion etched on his face. How was this possible?
No time to ponder. Lucius glanced at the clock; he was already late for work.
One more absence, and Monsieur Lafleur would dismiss him without hesitation.
Lucius hastened downstairs, grabbed a bucket of water, and splashed it over his face.
The icy shock cleared his mind. He dressed swiftly, donning his worn leather apron.
As he rushed out the door, Mrs. Von Doom's concerned voice called after him.
"Lucius, are you well? You look—"
"I'm fine, Madame," Lucius replied hastily. "Late for work."
The crisp morning air invigorated him as he sprinted toward the town's barnyard.
Monsieur Lafleur's stern face awaited him.
"Late again, Lucius," Lafleur growled. "You're pushing your luck."
Lucius apologized profusely, knowing his job hung by a thread.
The day's toil began – mucking stalls, feeding livestock.
Lucius's mind wandered to the previous night's events. The gray wolf's intervention. The mysterious healing. Questions swirled, but answers eluded him.
As Lucius mucked stalls, his colleagues' hushed conversations drifted to him.
"...found her remains in the woods, poor thing," Jacques said, shaking his head.
"No sign of the beast, though," Pierre added, his voice laced with frustration.
Lucius's ears perked up, his interest piqued.
Monsieur Lafleur, the barnyard owner, joined the conversation.
"The Mayor's lodged a complaint with King Louis XV. He's promised to send soldiers to hunt down the beast."
The group fell silent, contemplating the gravity.
"About time," François said, his voice firm. "We can't keep living in fear."
Lucius's thoughts strayed to the gray wolf's intervention. Had it saved him from the black wolf?
"...but what if it's not just a beast?" a young apprentice, Thomas, asked. The group turned to him.
"What do you mean?" Pierre asked.
Thomas hesitated. "What if it's something... supernatural?"
The atmosphere shifted, unease settling in.
"Superstitions won't help us," Monsieur Lafleur said sternly. "We need practical solutions."
Lucius wondered if Thomas's words held truth. His encounter with the wolves seemed beyond natural explanation.
As the discussion continued, a sense of unease settled over Lucius.
The King's soldiers would arrive soon.
Would they succeed where the villagers had failed? Or would they succumb to the beast's savagery?
The sound of horseshoes clanging on cobblestone interrupted Lucius's thoughts.
A dignified figure dismounted a majestic stallion.
"Ah, Monsieur le Comte," Monsieur Lafleur bowed.
Count de Morangi, a prominent noble, approached the group.
"Gentlemen, I bring grave news. The King's soldiers will arrive within a fortnight."
The group nodded solemnly.
"But that's not all," Count de Morangi continued. "I've received reports of strange occurrences in nearby villages."
Lucius's heart skipped a beat.
"Similar attacks?" Pierre asked.
Count de Morangi nodded. "Worse. Entire families slaughtered."
The group exchanged worried glances.
"This beast is no ordinary creature," Thomas whispered.
Lucius knew Thomas spoke the truth. He'd seen it with his own eyes. The darkness lurking in the woods. Waiting to strike again.
*
Lucius hurried home, his stomach growling with hunger. He hadn't eaten since morning. He hadn't bothered to eat as he was in a rush to get to work to avoid getting on Monsieur Lafleur's bad side.
As expected, the house was empty. The Von Dooms usually spent their evenings at the butcher shop. Sometimes he wondered where they got that much meat when they didn't rear any livestock.. of course Mr Von Doom had once explained that they bought meat from a neighboring town.
Lucius trudged toward his room, exhaustion weighing him down. But a sweet aroma wafted through the air, tantalizing his senses.
He halted, curiosity piqued. The scent originated from the basement door, hidden behind a tattered tapestry.
Lucius pushed the door open, revealing a narrow staircase. The aroma grew stronger, mingling with old books and dust. His heart quickening, Lucius descended into the unknown. At the bottom, a cozy room unfolded before him.
Shelves lined with ancient tomes and artifacts. A small fire crackled, casting warm light. The air thickened with anticipation. Lucius's gaze wandered. And stopped. Rows of fresh meat lined the walls. Glistening haunches.
Succulent steaks. Bloodied and raw. Lucius's eyes widened. His mouth watered. His stomach growled louder. An overpowering urge swept over him. Rows of fresh meat lined around the walls, Lucius felt an overpowering urge to eat the fresh, bloodied meat.
Lucius's resolve crumbled. He surrendered to the primal urge.
Grabbing a dripping piece of meat, he sank his teeth into its bloody flesh. The first bite exploded with flavor. Sweet and savory. Like nothing he'd ever tasted. Lucius devoured the meat, lost in its richness.
Unknown to him, his eyes flickered. Red, then blue. A struggle within. Finally, they settled on purple. A hue of transformation.
As he ate, Lucius's senses shifted. Heightened. Intensified. His hearing expanded. Smells became more nuanced. Strength coursed through his veins. Lucius didn't notice. Lost in the feast.
But when he finished. He felt different. Changed. A strange, unsettling calm. As if he'd crossed a threshold. Into unknown territory. Lucius looked down. Blood-stained hands. Tainted. Transformed. Yet, he felt no remorse. Only an eerie satisfaction. The room seemed darker. The shadows deeper.
Lucius's gaze fell upon his reflection. In a nearby mirror. Eyes still purple. A stranger stared back. His body physique now looked more defined, but what caught his attention was the long canines which were now stained red with blood. Lucius still could not believe what he was seeing. He tossed away the unfinished piece of meat in shock.
"What.. what am I? What have I turned into? What is happening to me?" Lucius almost screamed out. His mind instantly went back to that night.
He could not help but stutter as he now realized one crucial fact. "Beasts.. they.. they weren't mindless beasts.. they were Werewolves.. Oh my God!"