Blood Ties (3)

On Theo's sixteenth birthday, he woke to the bloodcurdling silence of his pack's chambers, replaced by a metallic tang that coated his tongue. The sight that greeted him was carved onto his memory - mangled bodies, lifeless eyes staring hollowly.

He'd killed them all.

The unchecked power within him, a force he barely understood, had unleashed a storm of fury during the night. Shame and horror choked him as he remembered the raw disappointment in his father's eyes. Theo, the supposed heir, was a grotesque failure, a creature incapable of control. Not the hero he'd aspired to be.

Tears, a display unbecoming of a Lord, streamed down his face as the weight of his first kill, his own blood spilled, settled on him.

Where did the monster end, and Theo begin? Was he doomed to become a monster, forever ostracised, forever incapable of doing good? Perhaps, his former guardians hadn't been wrong to fear him.

Self-hatred threatened to consume him, but a lifeline, a memory, tethered him to the edge. Eydis's words echoed in his mind, a truth he desperately clung to - there could still be salvation. He would strive to be the best version of himself, even if he barely understood the monster that roared within the man he was becoming.

Years bled into years, a relentless tide washing over Theo. His youthful visage remained untouched, a silver mask forever frozen in time. Yet, a chilling truth lurked within his eyes. With each full moon, the silver dimmed, reflecting the growing darkness that festered within. The hero he envisioned himself becoming was a fading memory, a forgotten tale whispered on the wind.

Theo stared out the window, a sigh escaping his lips as the full moon cast an ethereal glow on the snow-covered grounds. The drive home felt like an eternity, his mind a whirlwind of dread at the approaching transformation. Joseph, his loyal confidant, awaited him, a figure easily marked as an outsider within the pack by his crimson eyes and unruly red hair. He understood Theo's isolation all too well.

"Another full moon party, huh, Lord Theo?" Joseph quipped, his voice laced with a flippant cheer that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Theo offered a curt nod, the weight of the impending transformation a crushing burden. "Yeah, yeah," he rasped, heading towards the imposing iron door that led to his personal prison.

Joseph followed, his movements hesitant as he began to secure the magical chains that bound Theo's power. A desperate attempt to lighten the mood flickered in his eyes. "Whispers fly through the night, Lord Theo. It seems chaos stirs amongst the vampires."

Theo's gaze snapped back to Joseph, a jolt of electricity coursing through him. "What's happening?"

"The vamps are keeping it hush-hush," Joseph said, snapping the last cuff with a resounding clang, "but rumour has it their top dog and her BFF vanished. Maybe the whole vampire kingdom is up for grabs! Think the werewolves are ready to step up and be the new top dogs? Just sayin'."

Theo's heart pounded a frantic rhythm, a foreign sensation that sent a wave of dizzying confusion through him. "Queen Eydis... and Princess Athena?" he rasped, the names tasting unfamiliar on his tongue. It had been years since he'd dared to speak them aloud.

Ever since the revelation of his uncontrollable power shattered his world, he'd retreated from her orbit. Not that she was readily available anyway. She was always off on some grand adventure with her inseparable companion, Princess Athena. Whispers hinted at something more between them, but Theo had clung to disbelief. Perhaps, it was a comfort he desperately needed. In their world, such a bond was as unconventional as it was forbidden. 

Yet, when had anything about Queen Eydis been conventional? 

From her avant-garde suits that defied tradition to her thirst for knowledge despite her immense power, she was an anomaly.

A pang of longing twisted in his gut, followed by a realisation that pierced through the years of denial. This wasn't the childlike admiration he once harboured – it was a man's love for a woman.

He yearned for her.

"Do they know... where the Queen is?" Theo's voice trembled slightly.

"Poof! Gone," Joseph shrugged, his flippant tone failing to mask a flicker of seriousness in his eyes. "Probably met a final end."

A primal snarl ripped from Theo's throat, the chains around his wrists straining against his sudden surge of rage. "Lies!" he roared, the sound echoing through the silent building.

Joseph, unaccustomed to such a display, flinched back. "Whoa there, boss man! Just rumours," he stammered.

Theo ignored him, consumed by the gnawing fear. Vanished? Dusted? What was the point of it all? His father, once a source of warmth, now regarded him with fear and disgust. The pack, despite his title, remained wary of his volatile power, their loyalty a pale imitation of the bonds forged in blood.

And his beacon of light? Extinguished.

Under the full moon's cold gaze, the beast within him stirred, a primal force yearning for release. The only wolf who couldn't control his transformation, he was a caged animal, a constant source of shame. He'd endured the humiliation for as long as he could, clinging to the fading hope of control.

Tonight, the dam would break.

The magical chains clattered to the floor, a sickening symphony of metal against stone. Blood-curdling screams pierced the night, a horrifying melody that stained the pristine snow crimson. Theo, a whirlwind of silver fur and razor-sharp claws, became a monster amongst monsters, driven by an insatiable bloodlust.

"STOP, My Lord!" Joseph's panicked roar cut through the chaos.

Theo, a whirlwind of fur and fangs, barely registered the other wolf's desperate lunge. All he saw was red – the primal urge to tear and consume. Then, a deafening snap shattered the tense standoff. Agony lanced through his arm, ripping him from the bloodlust.

Through the haze, a blurry figure materialised – a woman. Long, blonde waves cascaded down her back, a fleeting memory of sunshine against the carnage. An angel of death? A flicker of morbid curiosity sparked in Theo before darkness claimed him.

Raw pain brought him back. A searing agony in his neck, but something else too – a strange counterpoint, a swirling ecstasy that left him bewildered. The monstrous energy that had thrummed within him receded, leaving a profound sense of clarity.

He was human again.

"Theo," a voice, both alluring and distant, echoed in his ears.

The world snapped into focus. Blinking away afterimages, Theo saw Joseph beside him, a mixture of terror and grudging respect etched on his face. And then he saw her.

Queen Eydis.

But this Eydis was a stranger. The captivating smile he remembered was gone, replaced by an icy distance that sent a shiver down his spine. The allure remained, yes, but it was laced with something new – a dangerous edge that both frightened and enthralled him.

"You… saved me again, Your Majesty," Theo rasped, his voice thick with emotion.

A flicker of something – regret? – crossed her face as she wiped her crimson-stained lips. "No, Theo," she said, her voice cool and measured. "This wasn't about heroism."

She turned to leave, but a new determination fueled Theo. He lurched forward, ignoring the searing pain in his arm, and grasped her wrist.

"I want to join you," he blurted, the words tumbling out in a rush. "Make me your Knight."

Surprise flickered in Eydis' golden eyes. It was a fleeting emotion, quickly replaced by a calculating glint. After a moment's contemplation, she nodded curtly.

"Knighthood is so past century," Eydis retorted, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Perhaps, you can be my companion instead? You can quell the monster within me, just as I can help you control yours."

Companion? Theo's heart hammered against his ribs. He whipped his head around, searching for Athena, the woman who had always been by Eydis' side. But instead, he saw a redhead with military-cut hair and a woman with emerald eyes who looked at him with amusement.

Eydis strode towards them, her blonde hair – a stark contrast to the dark waves he remembered – catching the moonlight. It was a beautiful, yet unsettling image, etched not just in his memory, but in his very soul.

Theo followed, Joseph trailing behind like a kicked puppy. "I'm coming with you, my Lord," Joseph mumbled, his voice thick with loyalty.

Eydis raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. "Joining the party, little shadow? Can your nose sniff out trouble, or are you just here for the scenic walks?"

Joseph stammered, cheeks flushing red. "I, uh... I follow you because of my Lord— Your Majesty, that is. And besides, someone needs to keep an eye on this walking disaster zone over here." He gestured awkwardly at Theo.

Eydis smirked. "A noble sentiment, pup. Very well, then. You shall be my official bloodhound. We have a lot to uncover, and a good sniffer can be invaluable."

"Sniffing it is, Your Majesty!" Joseph saluted clumsily, a wave of relief washing over him.

Theo stole a glance at Joseph, a pang of guilt twisting in his gut. This was his fault, Joseph's injuries. With a heavy sigh, he turned away from the ruins of his old life. His breath misted in the frigid air, a fleeting reminder of the life he left behind. Yet, a flicker of hope, fragile as a newborn ember, ignited within him. He would follow her, wherever the path may lead.

Loyalty, he now understood, wasn't about blood ties. It was the unwavering devotion blooming in his chest, a silent vow to the woman who had become his salvation.

"One last thing," Eydis said, her voice clipped. "When I'm blonde, call me Athena."