a witches doll

The man that stood on the other side was very concerned about the creature that paced around rather restlessly in the caged corner of the very large room. It's eyes showed of the trouble in its heart.

It was a beautiful night on the outside of the mansion, it was a cold night for others but of their kind it wasn't as cold.

"You know your parents will have my head if they know I let you out from time to time. Please try to go to sleep," Adin pleaded with the werewolf that continued pacing restlessly from one end to another.

He finally stopped his pacing to stare at his caregiver. Gold colored eyes pleaded.

"Don't do that," Adin half warned.

He did that, and tiny whimpers followed. A trick he learnt from ten years before while training with dogs.

"Fine! Fine! I will only be beheaded or thrown into a slaughter house but sure. I will let you out." he said on a resigned note.

Adin opened the hole that was carefully hidden behind a barricade of pillows and sac bags. It led to a dark tunnel that ran under the great walls of Tahu, leading to an open field, not too far from the forest of the damned.

This was going to be his third time ever letting the werewolf out.

Adin understood that the first ninety years of a werewolf life was fated to be tough due to the curse of the Dragomira.

A curse and a blessing.

The curse cast by the House of Dagon had taken hold, altering the fate of both humans and werewolves alike.

With time, the werewolves found themselves seeking alternative sources of sustenance and survival.

It was the transformation years they called it. The transformation years controlled the unruly beast within and saved them from premature death, and for centuries it has worked for most of their kind, saving them from extinction as well as the humans from harm.

His own time was filled with pain, loneliness and starvation and at one point he was sure he wasn't going to make it as countless of his kind didn't.

His parents were poor and couldn't provide the bare minimum but someone came along and saved him in the end.

The beast gave him a wet kiss, licking his face, cutting Adin's thoughts short. He then proceeded to licking his hands to show appreciation.

"Okay, enough of that." He laughed, giving him a friendly head rub. "Ten minutes. Run to your heart's content and get back here. Quietly!" He whispered the last word.

"Nod if you understand."

He nodded.

"Go! And be careful Prince Zaccai."

In a flash he was out of the city running freely to the stream splashing in the water and rolling in the dirt. His hearing ability has gotten so good that he could hear the faint noises made by creatures that made the forest their home.

Moments like these made the years easy. Adin was his caregiver. He was a man standing at five feet nine inches, with a striking combination of brown hair and olive skin. His presence was commanding, and his features were defined, giving him an air of confidence and poise.

A werewolf he truly admired as well, he's taught him more than is required of a caregiver. Some teachings they had to do in secret, he hated some of the process but loved the outcome. Adin taught him to understand words, big words. He didn't mind that at all, he wouldn't have a hard time communicating once he was done with his transformation.

His parents visited him every day to make sure he was doing well. He could sense the sadness in them that he was to spend the first ninety years of his life in a room, with little to no communication with their world. But it was for the best, that much they knew.

His father's face filled with pride every time he overcame a desire. The first fifty years however, he had killed everything that was put in front of him. From bunnies to snakes, to goats and a cow once. A human had once stood in front of him and that day still stands as a reminder of how twisted the curse was.

The desire to kill was still very much alive but there wasn't a damn thing they could do but hunger and thirst for something they could never have. If one did still choose to go ahead with their desires and take in human blood, they wouldn't survive a week after that.

It wasn't until he had been sent a dog that he had found the strength to start resisting and only killing when needed.

He learnt a few tricks from his dog. How to make sir Adin do his bidding was one of it. And that has so far been so much fun.

Due to his parents statue and power, he was having it easier than most ever would.

He wasn't locked up in a small cage, he had a room.

He wasn't starved, he had blood and meat brought to him once a day.

He wasn't lonely and left to his thoughts, he had Sir Adin. Sir Adin told him stories of what he was to expect when he was out and he couldn't wait to experience it all.

_

It was a cold night in the village of Ashford.

Happy villagers gathered round fires that was made to combat the cold chilly night. Some roasted meat that was the prize of hunts from earlier expedition. Children danced, and youths talked, laughter filled the air. Nursing mothers breastfed their young. On such night were the inhabitants of Ashford grateful for the blessings of the half year.

The gods had to be on their side. Despite being neighbors to the kingdom of Tahu.

The high chief's voice was heard loud and clear as he stood up to give a toast at the peak of the celebration.

Beside him was Ama, his wife, his treasure. Their two daughters, the fairest of maidens in the village sat on his other side. He gave a toast to the women of the village who he credited for being a channel for life, their beauty who never ceases to amaze him and their strength to manage homes and train their children.

He raised another toast to the men of Ashford for they stood as worthy leaders, great hunters and farmers, providers and protectors. All working towards a glorious future.

And lastly he raised a toast to Crown. A child born to the house of Mr Kish Lod exactly twelve months ago, whom the whole village knew and loved. She was a joy and equally a tyrant. She could make you smile and the next minute she was trying to claw your eyes out with her chubby little fingers or take a bite out of ones cheeks with her toothless gum.

She only started walking a week ago and so far everyone was trying their best to keep her away from hurtful items.

But Crown was a beautiful child. Everyone wanted to hold her even for a few seconds for she was beautiful to look at. Her rich chestnut complexion and sepia colored hair made her look like a witches doll. She bore similar features to her older two siblings but not quite.

There was something distinct about Crown, asides her name, which was the first of its kind in Ashford.

"How is she Kish?" The high chief asked her father.

"She is well, and luckily for us all tonight, she is sleeping peacefully at home," her father stood up to announce.

"Ah. We can all find our rest tonight and merry then." He announced.

A hearty series of laughter followed that remark.