Red

The prickly tips of the grass fluttered against my skin, chafing my flesh. A bright red light appeared at the corner of my vision and I twisted around, over the grass, only to recognize that it wasn't me. The peaceful sleep jolted out of me and my eyes widened, immediately burning at the scorching light of the sunset.

I raised my paws at myself and the truth lashed at me, striking me hard. I was in my wolf form. Salvia dripped down from my sharp teeth that punished my sore tongue. The dirty claws, at the edge of my paws curved into the grass beneath me, dragging out mud.

Everything was clear in my mind—from my death to my rebirth. My heart sunk below when my Mother's face flashed through my eyes. It was a faint memory, but it was the first time I had ever seen her.

And Nana.

Oh, I couldn't hold myself together anymore. While I desired to be with them, I couldn't, not when I had someone more important here, who'd lose himself without me.

I spun around, studying the nature, admiring it before coming into a conclusion. I needed to find Annabeth; she could help me.

The fresh scent of flowers dove in through my nose and the source of the smell revealed itself when I moved aside. There were roses underneath me, along with a hundred more flowers, scattered all across the grass.

My eyes trailed down at the headstone and I found my name, engraved to the stone.

Meredith Wallow — 1987-2007

A sharp pain whipped through my body. I was dead. I was buried underneath the ground—at least my body was.

My soul was alive but trapped in a wolf. I was grateful either way. It was too early to leave. I had my whole life ahead of me but Gretel killed me before I could even live it.

Bitch.

I hurried away from my grave upon hearing voices, belonging to the men at the castle. I ran on the opposite direction, ready to leave and find shelter somewhere else before I could find a way to speak with Annabeth.

However, I stopped on my steps when a black, shadowed smoke scattered above me like a heavy cloud. There wasn't any rain and the sky was clear but there was smoke and fire all around me, building up with every second.

The branches creaked as I turned around and stalked at the source of the smoke. My mouth hung open with surprise and I gained awareness of the smoke, it was from a fire that burned through the grounds of the castle.

The castle that I had called my home.

The castle where I had spent a lot of time.

The castle where my daughter and Luciano were.

My legs bent and I jumped, running towards the fire as worry filled up my head. What was happening? Gretel was dead and there was no one else against us. So, where did the fire come from?

When I got closer, I found the castle in flames and the air warm and hot as if it had been burning for hours now. I raised my head and backed up behind a tree while watching the castle and everything else turn into ashes. The bricky walls fell down, one by one, hitting the ground with force. The towers collapsed as well, the metal gates separated, and then I heard the ear-splitting screams.

They were coming from the cellar beside the castle that was as well in fire. I sucked in a breath, holding back the confusion. Cries and pleads of the witches inside the cellar echoed in the chaos, they sunk down with every minute as the flames caught up to them.

I drifted further and the heat grew.

"Where is he? He has lost his mind." A familiar voice made its way to my ear and I twisted around, finding Jacqueline running out of the castle. It was hazy due to the smoke but she stepped out in the clearing with Ben beside her.

"Luciano's gone."

"What do you mean he's gone?" Jacqueline shouted at him, sounding raged. "He can't just leave. He has responsibilities."

"I know. I tried to stop him but he just ran after putting the fire. I'm sure he'll return. He just needs time." Ben said in his worried tone.

Fear stirred inside my belly and my eyes raced around the garden. Oh, God. I couldn't tell what had happened but I could assume that it was Luciano behind the fire.

Jacqueline rubbed her temples and released a sigh. She looked at the flames before diverting her attention back to Ben. "Everyone is safe, right?"

"Yes." Ben paused. "Except for the witches. They are still trapped inside the cellar and we don't have the key with us."

"I'll handle that. Where is Annabeth?" she asked, stepping towards the cellar where the screams were still loud. I knew Luciano had kept witches down there but I didn't know that he intended on burning and killing all of them.

Some were innocent.

There a stretching silence between them before Ben replied, "She's gone."

No. Annabeth couldn't be gone. I needed her.

"What do you mean by that?"

Ben pulled out a paper from his pocket and explained. "She left a note last night. When I went to see her, she was gone. It says there is nothing left here that she would want to stay."

Jacqueline extended a comforting hand. "I'm so sorry. I'll have someone look for her—"

"No, no, it's fine." He shook his head. "I don't want to do anything. If she wants me, she'll return and if not, it's fine with me." The sorrow in his voice said otherwise. He had just found the woman of his dreams and she disappeared without telling anyone.

"As you wish."

My head narrowed in disappointed, I turned away from everything and left. There was nothing left behind to stay. No one could help me except for Annabeth. The castle would be in ashes in a few more hours and Luciano was missing as well.

I ceased away the tears and jumped away from the town, still in my wolf form. A surge of feelings sped through my mind and I quickened my pace, running across the clear fields to ease away the worry.

I drew back and stopped. Whimpers left my mouth and I dropped down under a tree. The fright knocked at me and in that minute, I only wanted to take everything back and live as a human, even if it was for after second.

This was all my fault.

Everyone knew what the Stone of Lycans did to the dead. The soul stayed trapped in the stone while the wolf was released. Jacqueline informed me that there were hundreds of werewolves that had died wearing this tone and till date, they were still in their wolf form.

If those wolves couldn't find a way to break out from the stone, how could I ever? How could anyone?

Footsteps approached me from the corner but I didn't care up until I heard a voice, belonging to Annabeth. "Oh, fuck, no. All those little tears for nothing. I even got flowers for you, Jesus." She cursed, looking down at me.

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