Sapphire Nightborne

It felt as though needles were flowing through my veins, tearing at me from the inside. My body still stiff as I tried to will myself to move, to do anything to get rid of this pain.

I screamed as pain seared through my gums, my teeth slowly being pushed out of place by something, falling from my mouth to the ground as sharp fangs burrowed their way through my flesh to see the light of day.

My fingers clutched the armrest of the chair as my bones shifted in each of them, my joints separating and lengthening while long black claws grew, splitting my own in half causing blood to drip from my fingertips.

Xander tried to shout my name, his voice mixing with the gargling sound of blood as it trapped his voice from leaving his throat. I let out another scream as my spine continued to shift and twist, blood pounding in my ears as the world around me became clear... clearer than it had ever been as a wolf.

"Look at my power as it increases tenfold!"

Damien's laugh mixed with my screams of pain as he marvelled at my pain, relishing every scream as though it would sustain his very being. His guards tried to move him away, but he pushed them aside, choosing to watch whatever was happening to me.

My mind was racing to find a way to dull this hell, a myriad of thoughts ran through my head before my eyes fell on the needle that made it easy for Damien to keep me docile.

Without even thinking of the possible consequences, I ripped it out of my arm causing blood to spray against my face, but that sharp pain was short lived as my existing pain returned with a vengeance, ravaging through my body as it attacked every part of my being.

There was no bone left on its own as I felt them shift under my skin, either disjointing from their original position or moulding into another shape.

Xander continued to try and scream my name, calling out to Amelia to help me, but she just slumped against the wall of the arena, her eyes blank as she stared at her fallen warriors.

I let out another howl of pain as my hands started to act on their own accord, the long black claws tearing through my skin to reveal coarse black fur underneath, making it clear that I was shifting... but to what? No shift, not even my first, had ever been so painful.

My screams turned into guttural snarls as I continued to rip off my own flesh, my back arching as my spine continued to lengthen. I thought that I was going to die from the pain when it just... stopped, as if nothing had changed.

My body no longer ached, there was no lingering soreness from my bones rearranging themselves, no searing pain from tearing at my own skin. I felt nothing except for one thing.... hunger.

Unquenchable, blood-thirsty hunger.

My tongue ran against the smooth length of my new fangs that passed my lower lip, saliva dripping from my maw to the ground as I looked around at the darting figures around me, the thought of their warm blood caused a shiver to run down my spine.

I let out a low growl in pleasure as I flexed my new body, my muscles tight from the shift. My low growl soon turned into a snarl as I felt a sharp pain in my back, snarling I reached around and felt the shaft of a spear, its head dug deep into my flesh.

They continued to dart around my like ants, brandishing their weapons at me. Their yells soon fell silent as I grabbed one of them, digging my claws into his chest as I lifted him from the ground, snatching the spear from his hands before impaling another with it. His legs kicked at me in an effort to get away, the low rumble from my chest at his futile effort caused his eyes to widened in fear. I ran my tongue over my fangs once more before clamping my jaws around his neck, using my claws to pull at his body before casting it aside. The others around me dropped their spears as I opened my maw, his head falling from my lips and rolled to their feet. I crooned as the warm blood dripped from my fangs, my hunger not even close to being sated.

My lips pulled back against my teeth as they turned to run. How far should I let them go before I start to chase them? I waited as they struggled to get one of their own through the door. I cocked my head to the side as he tore the throat of one of his comrades, the lifeless body falling to the ground while the others still tried to get him away... this would be an interesting chase after all.

I began to lower my body into a crouch, getting ready to start the game before something tackled me from the side, knocking me over. I growled and snapped at the beast above me, resisting his attempts to growl me into submission, snapping my jaws at him as he pinned me down. A dark grey female joined him, her claws digging into my flesh as she held my head down.

*"Let us in, Sapphire!"*

Their voices echoed through my mind as I continued to snarl, twisting my head from side to side, trying to get their voices out of my head. From the corner of my eye I saw some of my previous prey charging towards them, directed by the one who they tried to save. They did not even make it close before a dark brown beast ripped them to shreds.

*"Sapphire, you are not an animal! Open your link now!"*

I howled as my head started to throb, my eyes squeezing shut as I tried to get them out of my head. Growls left my lips as I swiped at the she-wolf behind me, causing her to release my head, before placing both on the black wolf in front of me, my arms shaking as I pulled his hands from me, ignoring the searing pain as his claws tore through my flesh. All my strength now poured into getting them off me as they tried to force me down once more.

We continued to fight before a loud howl, that sounded like a scream echoed through the place. It was as if time slowed as I saw the man pick up one of the fallen spears before aiming at the arena, the dark brown wolf running as the spear left his hands. Her eyes meeting mine as it went through her body, the two wolves leaving my side, but were too late as she fell over the ledge, a male voice below screaming as her body thudded against the stone floor.

The wolves jumped off, their claws digging into the stone as they went down to her. I tilted my head as the man began to laugh, his head thrown back as he laugh before our eyes met, a smile gracing his face before turning his back on me to run.

A sudden rage filled my being, the thought of what he did to my she-wolf making my blood boil as I started to run after him.

I followed him down one of the tunnels, the narrow space hindered my movement as his laughter bounced off the walls. The rough stone scrapped at my skin as I reached forward and swiped at his back causing him to fall.

Snarling as I towered over him, I expected him to cower in fear, but he just gazed upon with a relaxed look on his face, a smile playing on his lips.

*"Sapphire..."*

A whine unconsciously left my lips as a weak voice sounded in my mind.

"She does not have much time left, Sapphire. Are you going to let another person you love down?"

I bared my teeth and stepped forward before her voice echoed in my mind once more.

*"Sapphire.... Please..."*

He looked at me once more, his nails elongating into claws and running his tongue over his fangs.

"You can stay here and try to kill me, but she will be dead long before I am."

I clenched my fist, ignoring the pain as my nails dug into my flesh as he stepped forward. Without even thinking, I grabbed one of the torch brackets and plunged it into his thigh, pushing it in so deeply that it force its way through the bone and into the stone below.

With one last growl I turned to leave, ignoring his crazed laughter as he called out for me.