A Christmas Carol

She was back for Christmas, my bestie, and I had missed her so much. There was so much I wanted to tell her, but I was nervous of what she would think. Last time she saw me, was before I changed- now I was a totally different person. Infused with superpowers only I knew about and fizzing with latent energy that was constantly trying to burst out. What would she think of me being a wolf now? Turns out I had nothing to worry about, as she didn’t have a bloody clue.

“Lucy, baby, I missed you!” She wrapped her arms around me in the café, and I stiffened slightly, finding physical touch too much these days unless it was on my terms. She beamed at me, bubbling with excitement, wanting to tell me everything about her trip to Asia. “You look good,” I said. She always looked good, in that dark Mediterranean kind of way, with sultry brown eyes and long wavy hair that fell down to her waist. “And you have lost weight too, you look amazing.” She pretended to blush. “So how was Oz, let’s start with that. I saw your Insta photos, but I want to hear all the details!”

I listened as she recounted her trip, from the very start when arrived in Australia and had the obligatory fling with a blonde blue-eyed surfer she met in Sydney. Such a cliché, he could almost have been out of ‘Neighbours’. Truth was, I was jealous, having only got as far as Spain, France and Italy myself. This was different, a proper adventure. Then she went to Bali, Singapore, and finally, best of all, Thailand… She must have noticed I was starting to drift off as she changed the subject and looked deep into my eyes. “What about you, Luce. What’s been happening all this time?”

I jolted from my daze with a start. “Oh, not too much. We have a new finance manager at work, and oh my god is he dreamy. It’s those big blue eyes and Irish accent, gets me every time!” She smiled; she knew my tastes. “Poor man if you have your sights on him,” she laughed gently. “Yeah, I mean he has no f*cking chance has me. How could he resist?” I pouted my lips, trying to feign sexiness. “Never mind him, you look different Luce, what’s been going on with you? I heard you ended it with Dan?” “Yeah, he was a total wet blanket that was beginning to smother me.” In fact, I dumped him the day after I changed. That’s when I realised he smelt like stale milk, and it made me feel sick. “Awh, I liked him,” she said, but I knew she just being polite. She looked at my hands and grabbed them, admiring my freshly painted red nails. “So, you finally grew your nails!” “I got bored,” I lied. My nails grew at a phenomenal rate these days, and truth be told I just couldn’t be bothered clipping them anymore. “Things have changed with you, I knew it!” She looked at me intently. “And you are wearing contacts, don’t bother even pretending you’re not. Oh Luce, you really have come out of your skin since I’ve been away!” I smiled. If only she knew just how much. I was glad she was back.

Transitions (Part 1)

Last month, I had been caught out unaware, but this time I was prepared…Would every bloody month be like this from now on I wondered? I could feel it coming on all day, like a tide rising within me as the sun went down and the full moon started to rise on the horizon. I felt sick and nauseous, knowing what was to come. “Quickly!” I told myself as I rushed towards the car yard. I knew exactly how to get through a narrow gap in the fence and avoid the camera after doing a few practice runs. Thank goodness my dad had left the old Fiesta right at the back, where it had been rusting for years. Occasionally he threatened to scrap it, but I knew he had had some good times in it himself, so I guessed he was still fond of it. The key was on a thick rope around my neck. My hands shook as I opened the door with it and slid onto the back seat. Just in time as the moon was rising fast. I manually locked all the doors from within – click, clunk. They were locked and I was safe now. I lay back on the seat looking up with wide eyes, waiting for it to begin. My blood was boiling with a fever I could not cool down, and sweat was beginning to pour off me as I tore at my clothes. I felt the familiar burning deep inside. It was slightly cloudy, but I could feel it more than see it. The moon was teasing me now, beckoning me to join with her in an unholy union. It was pulling me apart, releasing a rage and hunger inside I never knew I had.

The car was silent as it became dark. From the outside no-one could tell anyone was in it as the windows had all misted up. The full moon slowly appeared from behind clouds and its brightness reflected off the dark glass. Suddenly, a shriek pierced the silence and the car began to rock and heave from side to side. A bare foot appeared on one side window, to be quickly followed by another on the other side and a scream. The car throbbed up and down. A series of sharp cries alternating with muffled panting echoed from within, followed by a long, slow moan and loud thuds. Finally, a long, mournful howl. The beast had arrived.

The day it happened - Part 4 (Night)

I have absolutely no idea how I got home, but I found myself in bed with my muddy clothes still on and a blood-stained towel wrapped around my throbbing arm. There was a knocking at the door. “Lucy, Dan’s here. Shall I tell him you don’t feel well?” I struggled over to my wardrobe and looked at myself in the mirror. My usually beautiful long hair was dirty and bedraggled and my face looked puffy and swollen. Were those leaves in my hair? I was sweating profusely. I looked totally dreadful, but had never felt better. I smiled at myself. “Tell him I will see him tomorrow night,” I shouted back to my mum. It had begun.