Chapter 12

As Michael struggled to his feet with a groan, he looked at the deep wound Chris's claw had left in his chest. He imagined his brother would be relieved to be home, to be human again, rather than the other way around.

His eyes widened in realization; Chris wouldn't hurt him, except... the transformation had turned on his dark side! Michael cursed inwardly; he knew this would happen. He had to go look for him before he did something evil. He looked at his reflection, watching the wound slowly close up.

Michael hurriedly put on a black long-sleeved shirt and exited the room.

When Chris arrived at Nich's eatery some hours later, his eyes searched for Elsa, and immediately he spotted her. He walked up to her, dodging the tables in front of him.

"What did you do to me?" Chris asked, standing behind Elsa.

"What did you think I did to you?" Without looking back at the person that spoke, Elsa replied to the question with a question. 

She walked away from the customers to somewhere more secluded.

"Since you turned me back, I have been feeling weird." Chris stated, trailing behind her.

"Yeah, it's part of the process..." Elsa nodded.

"Or you just didn't do it right." Elsa frowned at Chris's words. "You might be a witch, but you suck at magic." Chris spoke, giving her the eye.

He turned to walk away, but then he heard a loud ringing in his ears, transferring a deadly pain to his head. "You should watch your words, Chris. I can melt that filthy brain of yours. "

Chris groaned loudly. His face adapted to a bright red colour, and the veins on his forehead became more visible. He crashed his knees to the ground.

Michael tracked Chris and it led him to Nich's eatery. He dashed in, wondering why Chris had come here.

 He spotted Emily with the menu in her left hand and a pen in her right hand. She started a quick conversation with three guys that were seated together before she left.

He made his way to go look for Chris. He was walking towards the kitchen when he saw Elsa and Chris in the passage that led to the back door. She stood, staring fiercely at Chris, who, with his knees on the ground, held his head as he groaned loudly.

"Elsa, stop it, please." Michael begged, taking some steps closer to Elsa.

Elsa stopped the spell, and Chris let out a heavy sigh. He clenched his jaw. "Was that even necessary?" He asked, standing on his feet.

Elsa walked towards Michael. "What's wrong with him?" She asked in a whisper. She knew something was off. She wasn't used to Chris talking to her that way.

"His transition turned on his dark side." Michael answered, also in a whisper.

"Where's Chris?" Elsa asked, looking around.

Michael peeped at the door and it had been flung open.

He ran to the door and looked out, but there was no sign of Chris. He walked further out, and he caught a scent; it was a very familiar one.

Advancing forward, he noticed someone lying on the ground. He rushed to the person and found a man that was brutally murdered and soaked with blood. He was torn unrecognisably and looked like he had been attacked by a wild animal.

"I knew you'd follow me." Michael heard Chris's voice behind him. He was right after all, the man had been attacked by a wild animal. 

Michael clenched his fist, his already elongated claws piercing his palms.

"Do you really have to do this, Chris?" Michael turned to face Chris.

"Aww, don't give me that look. I was only having a meal. " Chris smirked.

As Michael tried to contain the anger that was boiling inside of him, his eyes glowed green.

"Here comes a tiny angry wolf." Chris gave Michael that cruel, one-sided smirk, revealing his sharp fangs. His eyes glowed gold. 

Michael dashed towards Chris, hurling himself into the air. Chris stood still, staring at Michael, who was descending with his claws above his head, ready to tear Chris with them.

Chris caught Michael's hand and twisted it, fracturing his arm. Michael groaned, falling to the ground as Chris released his grip on him.

"Nice try, brother." Chris sneered. He drew Michael to his feet, punching him in the stomach, and Michael fell to the ground again.

"You've been a werewolf for years, and here I am, a new born, beating the crap out of you." Chris grabbed Michael by the collar, punched him a couple of times, and flung him to a tree beside them. Michael groaned as he hit the tree and fell to the ground. He spat blood.

"Are you even fighting back? " Chris chuckled.

"Chris, this isn't you. " Michael spoke with shaky breath.

"This is me now. " When Chris walked towards Michael, he grabbed him by the collar and gave him a few punches.

***************

Rebecca made the usual tea for Emily and was heading to her room when someone knocked on the door.

Emily quickly stood up with the cup of tea in her hands and hurried to the door. 

 When she opened it, she was shocked at who she saw. Rebecca, who was standing halfway across the stairs, noticed Emily's puzzled expression and peeped to see who it was.

Emily stepped aside and Richard walked in. Victoria rolled her eyes and walked further to her room.

"Hey, Em," Richard said as he took her cup of tea and sipped it.

He yelled, clutching at his throat and removing his grip from the cup. The mug fell and was shattered into pieces.

 "Why are you drinking this?" Richard coughed.

Emily frowned, turning to her mom.

"Seriously? You're making Emily drink a tea that contains parsley? " Richard asked Rebecca, advancing towards her. Rebecca's eyes darted, then she turned around and started climbing further to her room.

"What are your plans, Rebecca?" Richard asked, racing up to her.

She didn't answer him, she just kept walking, till she was out of sight. Richard's gaze shifted to a perplexed Emily.

He didn't like how she was being kept in the dark, and he promised to tell her everything as soon as possible. He hurried to Rebecca to get answers as to why she gave Emily a tea made with parsley. 

*

Jacob opened his eyes. He gazed at his window as sunlight peeped through the curtains.

He advanced towards his window and spread the curtains, letting the sun flash in, making his room brighter. He closed his eyes and breathed in the clean air. He heard the breeze whistling softly as it gently blew across his face and the birds singing beautiful melodies, he smiled to himself.

For the first time in a long time, he felt free and open, like he had let a long concealed burden out. He moved to his wardrobe, searching with his eyes for something that'd suit his happy state.

A knock on the door interrupted him. He rolled his eyes, "Who is it?" Jacob asked, his eyes still fixed on his wardrobe.

"It's me, your Dad. I'm here to talk. " He scoffed at Dickson's words.

"I'm not in the mood for any step-daddy exhortation. " Jacob stated and walked to the bathroom without waiting for Dickson's response.

When he got to the bathroom, he took his tooth brush and placed a tooth paste on it. Not long after he started brushing his teeth, he noticed something big and dark behind him, through the mirror that was in front of him.

Jacob curiously looked over his shoulders, and he saw wings attached to his back. He was frightened. It was thick and coal-black, and dark smokes emanated from them, like quenched fire.

He screamed unknowingly and ran out of the bathroom. He took his trembling hand to his back and felt the wings. They were real!!

 His heart pounded in his chest. "Jacob!" Dickson banged on the door with his fist.

Jacob's gaze was drawn to the door, and his eyes widened. Dickson had heard his scream.

Tears welled up in Jacob's eyes. He couldn't let anyone see him like this.

"Jacob, what is it? Open the door. " Dickson yelled from outside.

 Jacob cursed inwardly. He was at a loss of what to do at the moment. They would all think him a devil if they find him like this.

Dickson took a few steps back and hurried to the door. He kicked the door open and rushed in, his eyes darting around the room. He frowned deeply when his gaze fell on Jacob.