Romeo and Juliet
Nuntis was a small babe, as the child grew as did her father's ambition and darkness. Days passed by and Fenrir got deeper and deeper into things he shouldn't meddle in. Things changed for the couple with the birth of their first born. The days grew colder once more and the man grew twisted, more distant than before leaving Diana alone to care for their fussy newborn. He only visited his wife at night, his days filled with schemes and plotting with a force darker than himself.
Fenrir missed a lot as he became more engrossed with the darkness. He missed things that may only happen once for a person, his child's first smile, her first laugh, the first time she stood, her first babble of nonsense, her first crawl, her first birthday. He didn't care though, he enjoyed his work and enjoyed the rewards he reaped from them. Fenrir bought his wife and child a small victorian house a few fields away from the village they had once found such happiness in.
Days were warm for Dianna, no matter the weather. Whether it was spending the days in the sun tending to her garden or watching her daughter run around like a puppy dog or wrapped up warm before the fire reading a brightly coloured book. It was the nights she hated. The Italian could stand being alone at night. Lying in a large, soft bed surrounded by pillows. The cold crept in at night with her husband's presence. It was often the early hours of the morning when he would join her. His body warm against hers but the soul she once loved, was gone leaving him cold and distant. He would lie there beside her as night turned to day, doing his husbandly duty to her before leaving as the dawn came and Nuntis arose.
Once again Dianna's stomach grew with life. The young mother was excited for the new addition, making a plan to leave her once beloved haworth and back to her family. Her family's disappointment and scorn would be worth it, for her children to play with their cousins, for Dianna to see her brothers, for her to escape a marriage with unrequited love. Dianna hated her marriage, resented letting Fenrir persuade her to come. She did love her children, born and unborn, yet she couldn't bare to lie next to a man she barely knew anymore. Her romeo had grown cold, much like the one from the muggle play however the one in the play was cold with death while her romeo was cold from the darkness within.
Another milestone Fenrir missed came about as the weather began to change to warm up, new life was waking up all around them. Spring awakening. The memorable date was the palm Sunday of 1963. Dianna was in agony, her brow damp as her long labour progressed. Nuntis thankfully elsewhere. A friend of Dianna's from church was minding her, showing her ways to weave palm leaves into shapes. The shapes which she would show off proudly to her mother once she was allowed to return to her. Cursing Fenrir to God as she pushed and pushed and pushed; Dianna eventually gave birth. Her son was born healthy and noisy. Her once beloved husband had left her instructions on what to name their son. Hati, after the norse myths. It was tradition for males born to the Hróðvitnir name. She couldn't help but be glad that the man, no wolf, kept away from their children. Slowly but surely he became less of a man and more of a wolf. The curse was taking over. His features changing after each full moon, letting his inner beast show on the outside. Fenrir was no longer the man she once knew, he hadn't been for a while now. The wolf within had won over her love and would continue to do so. This time she refused the midwife trying to take her babe to be cleaned from her so soon, instead she insisted on holding him. Dianna lay where she had given birth, clutching her child to her chest and promising him that she would make sure he would never become his father. Dianna knew she would have to be playing the part of both mother and father with Fenrir's actions. Perhaps an absentee father would be better for the children. The Fenris wolf locked away from his children to stop him corrupting them. The wheels in Dianna's head began to turn as she planned her next steps carefully to escape her husband.
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The children grew happy in their home. Dianna ran a business from her home, dress making. The little family's days were filled with laughter and joy. Their mother often watching them play in the garden as she sews and knits in the once sun room, now studio overlooking their land. They were happy.
It was a very special day in the lucifera household for the little family. A day of celebration. Dianna was humming to herself a soft lullaby she often sung to her babes at night, she packed little sandwiches made with cheese and cucumber and ham into a woven basket. The mother of two had her back turned to the door to the kitchen from the garden when it opened. Her muscles tensed in his presence and her hands began to shake with little tremors. Heavy footsteps in leather clad boots made their way across the kitchen. A chair was dragged out from under the table with a loud screech of protest. A sound that awoke the two sleeping children as it sounded much alike to nails being dragged down a chalkboard. Their father was here.
Little feet raced one another to investigate the noise that had awoken them early on this summer day. Dianna looked up to observe her husband, she had not seen him months. His absence had caused the woman to relax, finding some happiness in her work, children and church. Now, he was back. Fenrir had changed drastically since she had last seen him in daylight. His features more feral than ever. Feral. That was a good way to describe the man. "Hello Fenrir." Dianna greeted as she continued to pack her basket.
Fenrir snorted at her greeting. "Where are my children?" He asked her, his tone empty and posture stiff. Dianna hadn't needed to reply since as if on cue, Nuntis appeared in the doorway. The child's pjs were rumpled from sleep and her hair was a mess. Frozen in the doorway, the eldest was quickly ran into by her younger brother. Fenrir had never cared much for his daughter once his son was born. Hati was his heir, his perfect son. Yet today things would change.
Fenrir growled from his chest as his children stared at him like he was a stranger. To them he was. An absentee father returned. "Has your mother not taught you manners? Has she not taught you to greet your father when he arrives home?" The wolf sneered at his younger, nails sharpening with his fiery hot anger. Nuntis quickly responded to his prompting, ignoring her fear to hopefully direct his anger from both of his children to just her.
"Hello. Father." The little wolf greeted Fenrir, "Morning Mama." Nuntis hoped she had done what he wanted. Letting out a little squeal in surprise, Nuntis was grabbed roughly by the wolf and pulled closer to him. She stood still in fear of this dangerous stranger as he inspected her, trying desperately to control her breathing. A wolf could always sense another wolf and most importantly, he wasn't pack.
Fenrir hummed to himself before shoving her away from him watching as the little she wolf fell onto her behind. "Get dressed and be quick about it girl. I don't have all day." He growled at her which subsequently caused Nuntis to scramble to her feet and then upstairs to change. "Wear something you can move in." He warned loud enough for her to be able to hear from her room. The wolf scowled at Hati; the boy was too young for what he had planned with his first born. The youngest member of the household joined his father at the table, smiling up at his mother as she placed some food before him and ruffled his hair. His father scowled at him, "He looks like a runt. He needs some meat." Fenrir growled out as Nuntis came downstairs dressed as he requested. The father and daughter duo left the home Diana had made for herself and her children.
Fenrir returned eventually. Days had passed and Diana's anxiety had grown and grown with each passing hour. The moon was full and high. Fenrir stalked across the property in his large wolf from, drool and blood dripping from his maw. Behind him filled a much smaller wolf, sleeker and lighter in design yet also covered in blood. Nuntis let out a happy little bark and ran to her mother ignoring her father. Her mistake. Fenrir's wolf form latched onto his daughter's tail and yanked hard, dragging her back to his side as she whined. The larger wolf snarled at the pup as he then stalked to his mate standing in the doorway looking on in horror. A new cycle had started. The day of the full moon every month Fenrir would arrive at midday for his daughter to take her away for her transformations Diana had no clue what the father daughter duo were up to during the times Fenrir had her alone. All the worried mother knew was her daughter would come home with new scars and bruises was always exhausted. Yet Diana was powerless against him. She was powerless to save her child.
It seemed he was no longer the Romeo to her Juliet.