VIII

"What do you mean, Claudia?!", Serenity asked her, eagerly.

"Miss Emery told me that... there's a werewolf attack at the farm. She then told me that... it's one of my friends. My first thought is... Azazel," Claudia explained.

"Werewolf? Are you crazy? That's Azazel! Our friend! And you know he's not a werewolf!", Serenity hesitated to believe.

Claudia grabs Serenity's uniform collar. She wants her to believe!

"You can see it by yourself! He bites and rips Maverick! Werewolves eat humans! The only time they don’t touch humans is going there’ll be war!"

Serenity struggles to make Claudia release her. She then looked at Azazel. She can't believe it. If it's true, that means Azazel is from the Mauve Kingdom. He's not human. Why they never realized it? Why do things happen all of sudden?

"I... I don't know what to think," said Serenity.

"It's okay. I don't believe it either. But seeing that, I can't simply refuse to believe," Claudia replied.

Serenity tries to step closer to Azazel and Maverick. She wants a closer look. Some of the people around them try to stop her. But, she resists. Those are her friend. More like, her family! Claudia just followed her. Serenity can't handle it alone.

"Don't make him lose control again," Claudia whispered to Serenity.

Serenity nodded.

"Azazel?", she called upon his name.

Azazel didn't reply or move. The blood started to give them an awful smell.

"Go... away!", said Azazel.

"Hey, you know. We're family. A family can't leave each other. It's okay. We can help," Serenity replied.

"Stay away from me!", Azazel looks at both of them with his dark purple gloomy eyes.

Serenity stopped walking same as Claudia. If they getting more closer to his radius, he might attack them also. Azazel still didn't step away from Maverick's body. There's no way they can save Maverick who currently loses a lot of blood. There's a pool of blood in the area. She can feel her saliva stuck in between her throat. She holds Claudia's hand, afraid that she's the one also gonna collapsed.

"Azazel, please let us treat Maverick," said Claudia.

"Maverick?", he asked.

"Yes, Maverick. You sat on him. He's collapsed due to losing a lot of blood. Please, give him to us. We can help him," Claudia replied.

Azazel looks at Maverick's body. He's trembling again. His eyes watered.

"It's okay. He'll be fine. Just give him to us," said Claudia again.

"I kill him... I'm a monster. I... I'm a bad person!", he screamed those words out loud.

"No no-no-no. You didn't. It's just an accident. You gonna be fine soon," said Serenity.

The world paused for a few seconds. Serenity could hear her heartbeat, beating faster than usual.

"If that is so, an accident can be repeated right?" he asked and move away from Maverick's body.

"You better not!", Claudia warned him.

Shrink!!!

Azazel appeared to have sharp claws. He looked at both of them. Same as before, he will attack them. But this time, with sharp claws.

"He's losing it! Everybody, run!", said Claudia.

Everyone started to move far away from Azazel. He's lost control. It's the first time this thing happens to they don't know what to do. With his sharp claws and buff body, there's no way they'll survive.

"Serenity, we better go!", Claudia pulled Serenity's hand.

"But, Mave! We can't leave him with this Azazel!", Serenity resist.

"If we don't go, we'll be next! Let's find some help first!"

"But... but..."

"No Serenity! We need to go!"

Serenity stared at Maverick's body. A few seconds later, she ran away with Claudia. But, it's too late.

"Too late young lady."

His moves are as quick as flash. They didn't even hear a step coming toward them. He's not in front of them.

"Azazel, don't," said Serenity.

Grrrrr!!

"Be my prey!", he said.

Azazel swings his hand and is about to slash Serenity's face. She didn't manage to dodge it. But,

Dush!!!

Someone's being able to kick Azazel. Azazel growl. He put his hand at his waist. That kick affects his buff body until he can't stand up again.

"What's wrong with this dude again?", Evander asked, coldly.

"He's... a werewolf," Claudia replied.

She's still shocked due to the sudden attack by Azazel. She's kneeling on the ground, beginning to tremble and unable to stand up by herself.

"A werewolf? That idiot is a werewolf? How?", he asked.

"He's actually from the Mauve Kingdom. Miss Emery told me this info," Claudia replied.

"Ergh! What are you doing? That's my prey!", Azazel gets mad.

"Your prey? Hey idiot! This is your friend! So, stop mumbling around!", said Evander.

Evander remains cold. He didn't show any expression. Just his normal straight face. Claudia helps Serenity to stand up again. Azazel just

watching. Maybe, he's planning.

"Both of you, go away from here. I'll take Mave with me," Evander instruct them.

"Will you be safe?", Serenity asked.

"This idiot... is not that strong," he replied.

"Okay. Be safe," said Serenity.

"Where are you trying to go!" Azazel runs to them as quick as flash.

Serenity and Claudia can't do anything except stay behind Evander. No one can save them. All of them already run away. The only hope is, they

run to find help.

Dush!!! Dush!!!

Evander kick his stomach and punched his face. He didn't want to hurt him that much. But if he when too far, he will turn on his brutal mode.

"Don't try to attack again at this point. I don't want to hurt you," said Evander.

"I would not!"

Slash!!! Slash!!!

Azazel tries to slash Evander's face. But, it's too far to succeed. Evander dodges all his attacks like he uses to fight before. Even he never.

"Who are you?", Azazel asked.

"I don't know. What do you think?"

Evander didn't take much time and continued to punch him as hard as he can to stop him from attacking again. After a few punches and kicks, Azazel is no longer moving.

"Enough! What's happening here?!"

. . . . . ╰──╮╭──╯ . . . . .

Claudia POV

After the sudden presence of King Alexander and Queen Elizabeth, Serenity immediately fainted. Maybe she's relieved or shocked by it. They put us in the castle emergency room. Evander needs oxygen since he barely can breathe after the fight. He's strong enough to bring down a werewolf but didn't have a proper breathing technique to fight. He didn't show it before. But, I was relieved he was there. Maverick is well-treated. They already close the wound. The doctor said, he'll be waking up soon so we don't need to worry. Let him have a proper rest. While Azazel, the King and Queen want him to be located in a different room. He also fainted. They said we can go to see him if he was conscious and no longer in werewolf form.

"Claudia?", I heard Serenity's voice.

"Yeah? You're waking up already. Need anything?", I asked.

"Mave... is he alright?"

"Yes. The doctor said he just needs rest. So, you don't need to worry. He'll be fine. Just give him some rest," I explained.

"Evander and Azazel?"

I smiled. Knowing that she is really worried about Evander.

"Doctor put Evander to sleep since he barely can breathe after the fight. Don't worry, he'll wake up soon. And Azazel, he's somewhere else. We'll able to meet him if he is already conscious and not in his werewolf form."

She nodded.

"Don't worry. Have a rest. We don't need to work for the next few days. They thought we need some rest and ease this trauma. I think you're the one who needs it. I'm fine now."

"Okay. I'll be fine too."