Transformation

"No choice?" Renat was very confused by her words. Everyone had a choice. What could Livie possibly do that would change his mind?

His cheeks began to burn. That's when he remembered what had happened to Mairwen when she had been cut by the lizard. Things had gotten serious very quickly.

The scientist already suspected that the wolves and lizards were closely related. It made sense; the Empress's wound had had a similar reaction to the healing water as Mairwen's cut did with the Guardian's elixir. If Renat didn't get healing soon, then the dark veins which he had seen on his wife were sure to form and spread.

"I need all the healing water you have," the scientist begged.

"I gave you as much as I am going to. You will have to let nature take its course." Livie looked as a stool, parchment and thin piece of charcoal were brought for her to use. "Out of ink again, I see..." she mumbled.

Sitting, the lady shrugged and used the stone to scribble down information about what she saw. Renat ignored her as he tried to do some quick calculations in his head.

Mairwen had gone nearly a half hour before complaining about her injury. Right after that things had accelerated quickly. The sickly purple ooze had already been leaking from her wound and the spidery veins had already begun to snake around her body.

He had no idea how long he had been unconscious, but he did not think it had been long. The sun had not moved very much in the sky if at all.

The healing water likely bought him a little bit of time, but how much?

'Not enough,' he reasoned bitterly. Whatever was about to happen was beginning. He could feel it…

If his cheeks were burning before, they suddenly felt like they were being seared away by a hot iron. Crying out against the pain, Renat tried to reach for his face. However his bound hands stayed firmly in place.

"The pain!" he cried, when no other words would come to his lips.

"Describe it please," Livie tilted her head like a physician talking to a patient. "It will help those who come after you.

"Burning pain. I'm on fire," Renat did not want to help her, but he could not keep his thoughts contained within. "Make it stop!"

Clicking her tongue, Livie pursed her lips. "You are fighting the process. That's how most of the other people died, you know. They don't let it take over. Though no one I have observed has transformed by being scratched. The wolves, lizards and the rest have far too much bloodlust to leave most people alive. Once they attack, they do not tend to hold back. As such, you are quite a valuable asset to science. My brother does love a good science experiment…" Livie paused. "How do you feel now?"

"Like my insides are being ripped to shreds..." Renat gritted his teeth so hard that they threatened to shatter.

Looking at the prince struggling against the process which was trying to take control of his body, Livie made some notes. The dark, gruesome veins were spreading at a frightening speed, but not as quick as the lady would like.

Renat was breathing heavily. He could feel the poison spreading in his body. What would happen when it reached his heart, he wondered morbidly. He could not let it get there. The prince would shut it out somehow.

The deadly tug of war continued as Renat mentally fought for control of his body. Sadly, it was a battle he was losing. The burning and ripping intensified, and not even the assistance of the healing water was enough to truly fight it.

"You are going to kill yourself by your own stubbornness…but by all means, please continue…" Lady Livie sat nonchalantly looking on.

While it would be nice to have Renat alive, dead was not a bad option either because it would mean that they had one less witness who knew their whereabouts.

"I don't want to die," the scientist pulled against his restraints.

"Then give in...Let the process finish." Livie yawned. "Or die. I am starting to lose interest."

The ropes felt tighter around Renat's wrists. The prince's body was changing. He screamed over and over until his throat was raw. The pain was beyond anything he had ever felt. His consciousness began to fade to deal with the pain.

"No!" he rasped.

"Yes," Livie countered. "There really is no escape." She smiled but it did not reach her eyes.

Renat tried to stand up with his back to the rough bark. If he could keep himself conscious, he could continue to fight. But the rope restraints were unforgiving, and he fell back helplessly onto his rear. It was no use.

The poison entered his heart and mind at the same time. Renat felt that he could either let it in or die trying to keep it out. He couldn't go without warning Mairwen and the others of the danger lurking here.

If he chose death, he would likely be condemning them to the same fate. For they did not know how close the danger was, and would be caught unaware. He needed to stay alive to give them all a fighting chance. It was this conclusion that led him to the devastating choice.

To help the others, he would surrender himself.

Lowering his head, he let the poisonous pathogen run its course. His mind was flooded with a strange force as power surged through his body. Energy pulsed through him as the ripping finally stopped and reforming of his very being began.

It was painful, but far less so than when he had been fighting it. A strange fascination overtook Renat as he opened his eyes to view what was happening to him. His muscles looked thicker and he felt increasingly strong. The surge of power moved across his eyes and ears.

When he looked up, Renat found he could see the intricate details of Livie's necklace as if it were right in front of his face. He could hear her breathing and the beating of her heart. She must have noticed a change in him, for her pulse quickened.

"What is it?" The prince realized his voice sounded husky. He thought it was likely due to more than just his screaming.

"You are almost done," Livie looked elated. "I didn't think it would work!"

"What?!" Renat growled.

His voice was even more wolfish than before. He had only given in for a chance to warn his wife. But it turns out the woman who had given him the advice did not think he would survive either way. She really did just want to torture him.

"Calm down. It isn't good to be angry in this part of the transformation. Your heart could burst and that gets… messy." Livie leaned forward in her chair slightly. She seemed excited by the prospect of sudden cardiac arrest.

The man's skin tingled. The hair on his arms stood up on end and grew thicker and thicker until his skin could no longer be seen. The brown fur continued to spread, covering every inch of him, even his face.

With a loud tear, the prince's clothing ripped away as his muscles and body continued to grow beyond the seams.

His tongue felt funny as his mouth changed shape and elongated, sharp canine teeth taking the place of his human ones. His ears came to a rounded point as well, and began to be able to move independently of one another to capture as much sound as possible.

Finally, he could feel a last fundamental shift in his being. The kind and gentle man now wanted nothing more than to tear apart his enemies and spill their blood all over the mountainside.

If he could have, Renat would have reached out and ripped the smug smile off the charismatic woman's face. However, she seemed immune to his murderous gaze as her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Unable to act on his animalistic instincts, Renat snarled and snapped at the air. His vision flashed red before his head dropped to his chest. When he came to again, his head ached terribly.

"How do you feel?" Livie asked. Her parchment had turned over. Obviously she had been taking notes while he was out.

"Miserable…" Renat rumbled.

"That's to be expected. You've been through a lot," Livie nodded compassionately, but somehow Renat thought it was all for show. The woman was still human, whereas he was…what was he?

In answer to his unspoken question, Livie's assistant returned with a reflective piece of glass in his hand. He passed it to Lady Livie with a bow.

"So," she chirped, "are you ready for the big reveal?"

Before the prince was able to spit in her face as he would have liked, she strode casually toward him and turned the mirror for him to see. As he suspected, his worst fear was confirmed,

Renat was now a wolf.