Chapter 12: Retaliation (4)

The dream arose suddenly. Sascha's mind roused to life with a rush of euphoria. She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds and then sat up, her movements cautious and gentle, waiting for the moment when his vision would spin and darkness would bite his consciousness. She waited a couple of minutes, and reservedly left the comfortable warmth of her bed.

Her stomach riled up at her, but at least this time she didn't have to run. She made it to the bathroom in time to lean over the basin. When she finished vomiting she still felt whole enough to clean up the mess herself. Progress, whatever her illness was, at least it was beginning to pass.

Hallelujah!

She took a long shower. After washing her long hair he leaned against the wooden screen, while the water gathered around her. A thousand thoughts and worries bit into her mind, but unlike the day before when she felt everything collapse around her, she felt optimistic.

She planned a trip to Crimson in the immediate future. Visiting the business district had become a necessity, and more so now that she couldn't count on her precious belongings.

Clothes, objects for personal use, books, and instruments. She would have to get everything back and she would. She would not allow James to continue to mess up her life. She wouldn't give him that kind of power. Nevermore. After many years in prison, Sascha tasted the first real breath of freedom from her and liked her.

Did she not have money? She had a job.

Did she not have a home? Her house would be where she was.

Didn't he have a family? She well she had an old curmudgeon who acted more like a father than a mentor.

Would she give up the children she wanted? Hell no, she would adopt some child who, like her once, needed a place in the world.

Sascha walked briskly out of the shower, a happy tune between her lips. The day passed normally. She took care of her homework in the store - the Old Man didn't want her in the back room yet - and she had lunch. Late in the afternoon, she found her curled up in her cubicle, a cool breeze blowing through the open shutters of the window, a manna lamp lit, and a book on her lap.

She inspected the werewolves and wolves section of the encyclopedia with a frown. Anubis. Huargos. Garm. Ammyt. Vargshar. Wolkolak. Kobolds. Feral wolves. The names of the various races the humans had come in contact with flashed before her eyes, each more fierce and dangerous than the last.

What am I doing?

She wondered more than once and more than once she was about to close the book, but like her every time she regretted it at the last second. Her eyes continued to study the monster illustrations in detail, but she never found the one she was looking for.

"You slept well last night, then." She jumped, slightly surprised by the Old Man's words, but she recovered quickly.

Sascha paused, the monster encyclopedia page held between two fingers.

"I decided that it was not worth making my life bitter because of James." She confronted her teacher. "I'm not going to give him any kind of power over me, I'm done with him and his family. I wish I had found out sooner. "

The old man leaned against the threshold of the open door, examining her. Sascha let her gaze hold him, let her feel the sincerity carrying his words.

"I am going to leave the past in the past, Master. I will not wait for anyone ever again, whatever I want I will get for myself and to hell with others. "

"It was about time, damn it." The old man growled at him. "You never needed anything from those greedy bastards and you know it."

"Now I know that." she said emotionlessly and returning her attention to the book, but a distinctive glint filled her eyes.

The pages continued to turn and her finger froze on a particular page. Wild amber eyes stared back at him. Her heart skipped a step, her knees trembled and her breath froze for a second.

"Are you listening to me?"

"Hey? what? What's up?" She squealed, slamming the book shut.

"I was telling you that I'm going out." The old man repeated patiently. "I don't want to leave you alone, but they called a meeting between Elders, I have to go."

"Ah. It's fine." She swallowed hard, she didn't like being alone with the bastard acting crazy, but she didn't show it either. "I'll be fine, do what you have to do."

"Good and Sascha ..."

"I know, I know." She dismissed the Old Man's words with a gesture. "Do not go out. I won't, I swear. "

It wasn't like I wanted to either. The village was no longer a comfortable place for her. The villagers stared at her. The men stared at her. She shuddered, she didn't like the looks of any of them. She rubbed her shoulders pretending to be cold.

"Didn't you have a meeting? You're going to be late. " The old man growled something at him, unintelligible, but knowing him shouldn't have been flattering.

She giggled and said goodbye to the old man. She alone once more opened the page of the book and carefully studied the illustration. Fierce and wild, amber eyes, ash-gray fur that gradually darkened on the legs and ears. A dangerous snout, he filled with sharp fangs.

The Fenrir.

The? The Fenrir? How in plan the only one? She stared blankly at the replica of the monster that had attacked her. She swallowed hard, feeling suddenly dizzy. The dizziness only got worse when reading the inscription on the edge of the image.

Danger level: certain death. Runaway in case of sighting and pray that you don't get his attention.

"That is wrong in so many, but so many levels." She whispered, the book sliding out of her loose grip without drawing her attention. It was the growl of her stomach that made him react. Sascha blinked and sighed.

"I can't believe I'm hungry again." she crossed the threshold after leaving the thick volume on her bed.

"Let me get you something to eat then." James appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed Sascha by her throat and pushed her against her, the nearest wall.