A Night in Paris: The Winter Wolf

            In the 21st Century, stories of vampires, werewolves, gargoyles, witches, creatures of the night are just stories being told or to make tons of money through a moving pictures. These vile creatures hungers for one thing.
            Humans.
            For them humans are nothing but food, food that they like to play with before they satisfy themselves.
            Yes, I know. This seems to be so impossible, those creatures are myths. They're nothing but legends, or just some story to tell the kids so they won’t go out at night.
            But they're real.
            They are.
            I, for one does not believe in ghost stories but what i didn't know, is that I'm in one.
            This is a story of the cursed blood whom I met.
            The flesh and blood but not human, who murdered my fiancé.

            The first time I met her was in a ball prepared by my family as a gift of my homecoming. I was sent to college for 5 years, and when I came back, there she was. So dazzling, so gorgeous that none of those pretty faces that I see in every ball could compare. She stand tall from the crowd when I saw her the first time, and what I hate the most is that I know nothing about her, not even her name.
            I questioned myself, how long has it been when I last attended a ball? How come I know nothing of my visitors?
            And unlike amongst the women on the floor, she stands the most and wears very differently. Though I find it very odd to see a woman with a great posture to wear a suit and coat on a ball, for some reason, it pleases me to see a slight differences in this society. And I notice that I am not the only one who is staring at her. I can see other men and women look at her with such an awe and lust. A group of teenager on the floor gossips about her and starts giggling. I can’t blame them. She's truly breathtakingly beautiful.

            I look back at her and my eyes run through from her head to toe. I started with her auburn hair, I can catch a glimpse of pink highlights of her hair when it gets hit by a light, is ponytailed neatly. Her perfect eyebrows match her green eyes. Her pointed nose goes perfectly along with her rosy cheeks give the jitters to my inner goddess. Lastly, her perfect curves of lips are the most luscious lips I have ever seen. As if I would give anything just to taste those lips with mine. She stands there among the crowd like no one could stand in her way. She walks with manner, in a way its manly yet so gentle.
            Why? I ask myself, Why am I feeling this way to a person I have never met before?
            It's a gravity pulling me towards her.

            She's having a conversation with Prince Anthony, a Lieutenant-Colonel of the British Army, and my fiancé. At the sight of him everything comes back, I remember what I forget, that I am engage and should fancy no one but my fiancé. I turn my head to my right to shake away my thoughts of that mysterious woman in suit. I make my way through the banquet hall to get some air and collect myself.

            "Althea!"

            I turn around to see whose voice it’s from. "Oh! Althea, I'm so glad you're back, I have missed you so." It’s just Judy, my fiancé’s little sister. Her features have changed for over the past 5 years. From black curly to straight hair, she grew few inches taller than I remember, and just like her brother, she have deep brown eyes that matches her fair complexion.

            The first time I met her, it was winter, Christmas break from my boarding school, six months after meeting Anthony. He brought me to his home to meet his family. All of them have the same fair complexion and deep brown eyes. He introduced me to everyone, and lastly, to Judy. She wasn't this so friendly at that time. There were times that she would hiss at me for random reasons, but over time, we became friends which I find somewhat disturbing sometimes. There are times that she would just stare at me as if I'm going to do something that she's been waiting for and then snaps back after calling her name several times over. And she's not as friendly to anyone like she is to me. Actually, she isn't friendly at all. I would often see her hiss at people to scare them away. I always thought it’s just her being a kid and all.

            I sighed, "Yes, I missed you too. And it's been too long. How are you Judy?" I place my hand on her shoulder and squeeze it gently, to show Judy that I meant what I said.

            "I'm fine, you know me, its Anthony that I was worried about before. When we received the announcement of you coming back from school for good, he just could not stop talking about you. He does not even know where to start." Judy and I laugh at the thought of Anthony pacing back and forth, so excited of my homecoming.

            "Well, I'm sure that he's got it all figured it out now." I smile to Judy, and then it happened again, like someone clicked the pause button her to be still and lost in space, just staring at me as if she has seen a ghost or something to be worship about. "Judy?" I ask with confusion. I called again, twice, thrice. Still no answer. I'm just staring back at her waving my hands in front of her face but she doesn't respond.

            "I believe she finds you so irresistible that no one could even budge her from looking at you." Says the voice from behind which is so gentle and so soft that I don't want to hear anything anymore except that voice.

            I am about to turn around to see whose voice its from when Judy snaps back to reality and her deep brown eyes widen in annoyance and starts to hiss at the person behind me and then turns around and vanishes from the crowd. I did not get a chance to call out her name to ask her to come back. I sigh and as I turn around with my attention to my hands as I wipe them with my handkerchief. I get a little scared when Judy does that, and when I get scared my palms starts to sweat.

            "I believe you have startled Judy with your unannounced presence." I said it with a bit of annoyance in my voice. I spoke as I lift my head to look at the person who have such a gentle voice. As stunning as her presence is, she stood right in front of me being awfully charming.

            "Well, I suppose I startled you with my unannounced presence too. Please forgive me." She bowed slightly.

            I shake my head and tried to collect myself to provide her a response. "I.. Uh.. It's okay.. It's okay. I… actually didn't mean it. I was just… fooling... around." I trail away with trembling chin.

            What's happening to me? It’s her, the mysterious woman in a suit! She's right in front of me for introduction. Why am I not always prepared for this kind of situation?

            "Fret not miss Althea, I just came over to introduce myself. I'm Lady Elyse Eyre Ludwig." She said gently as she reaches for my hand. Time has move so slowly at this very moment and I see every inch of her body moves as she kisses my knuckle and wishes that this will be so endlessly. I could feel her icy skin over the leather gloves that she's wearing, and every move she makes you can see every effort of being so careful, like she's afraid not to break me or hurt me even by just holding my hand. When she raises her head to meet my eyes again, I became lost in her gaze. I tried to open my mouth to let a word to come out but nothing came.

            "Miss Althea?" Elyse asks still holding my hand. My body starts to tremble, my hand is shaking, I knew if I don’t take off my hand from her I will be stunned like a stone on a raging blizzard. I slowly take off my hand away from hers and clear my throat.

            "Please to meet you Lady Elyse, My name is Althea Rune Boudelair. Heiress of Reinaldi de Contessa." I curtsy.

            "Yes, I have met your mother. Couple of years back, she's actually the one who invited me here. So we could meet personally." She said matter-of-factly.

            "Personally?" I replied at once, blinking, confused with everything that she said. She met my mother? And why mother hasn't told me about her?

            "Yes, personally. She spoke of you when we were in Paris. She told me of your beauty and talent. And for once, the rumors are true." She says with a smile.

            "What else have she told you about me?" I ask again. I've never been intrigued in all my life and this is the first.

            "A lot, whatever it is to tell. Oh. I don't know where to start." She chuckles.

            "Well, how about the very first thing that my mother told you about me?"  I am now curious. Oh, mother. Why did you not tell me about this person in front of me now?

            Elyse pauses for a minute, remembering the very first thing my mother told her about her. Her gentle face straightens for a second and then she smiles before she opens her mouth.

            "I met her in Paris, two…--three years ago, I believe. The first thing she told me was 'Oh you have to meet my daughter, I'm sure she's going to like you, you'll be very good friends. For starters, both of you have a beautiful eyes and so gentle.' That’s her exact words the moment we talked about you. And then she mentioned that you went to a boarding school for college, for five years. You like grapes in the morning for your breakfast." She pauses for a minute to remember again what else my mother has told her.

            "My mother told you that? She really said all that? Oh, mother. She's not like that, you know. She must've really liked you and wanted you to be friends with me." This is so overwhelming. My mother is not the type of a mother who lets anyone be friends with her daughter, especially if one is an heiress of a title. But this person, she has worked her magic around my mother, and now she wants this person to be my best friend, "Or maybe, your charm caught her off guard and gave you an opening to penetrate her weaknesses and lets you get away with her daughter?" I grin teasingly.

            "Perhaps," She returned my grin with such mind-blowing grin and intense gaze. "I may have used my charm to get so close like this." She steps a little bit closer to the point that I have to tilt my head to look at her.

            How could she do that? Freezing me momentarily.

            Her icy breath touched my cheeks. Our eyes gazed at each other for quite a moment and then like an ending of anything, her eyes soften, "But I'm afraid I'm only staying here for a day or two. I'm just in town for business matters. After that, I leave the town the next morning." I felt her frustration that we can’t spend some time together and also the fact that she backed a little. "Anyway, maybe I'll visit you sometime then?" She comes back with a smile. I blinked and tried to process what she said afterwards.

            "Well, I most certainly would love that. You can visit me anytime." A wide smile came out, I felt so excited already. Again I forget the people around me. It feels like we're the only one around the hall. I never felt this way before to anyone, especially to a woman like her. We talk and laugh at random things. I feel like I don’t want to end this day, I can go on and on talking to her. We talk about how mother met her, she said that she was introduced by a priest to my mother and that moment on, they're always together for the past two years. They were together for a business matter, and today would be the day of them retiring for their business.

            "Anyway, after today we will go on in separate ways. But, I'll try to visit her sometime. I'll send out a word to you, if ever I'm going to visit your mother."

            "Yeah, I would certainly love that. Please don’t be a stranger, okay?" I rest my hand on her arms. Elyse looks at me with a gentle smile and nods.

            "And oh, She even mentioned that you are engage to--" Her words cut off as if she is expecting something to come over.

            "Althea! I've been looking all over for you. I didn't know you were just here." Anthony came rushing over me. He hugged me tight. I had no choice but to hug him back. I don’t know why, I felt so guilty showing this to Elyse. I don’t want her to see me being engage. I felt embarrassed the moment Anthony came over.

            "Anthony, you surprised me." I back away from him slowly, so he will not notice my embarrassment, "I was just here, I met Lady Elyse, I believe you have met her already. I saw you talking to her awhile back." I clear my throat and introduce the two.

            "Lady Elyse, I see you found your way to our host this evening." Anthony's face has straightens out. He seems to be so annoyed and scared at the same time, talking to Elyse. His face breaks off sweat the moment he laid eyes on her. His hands starts to shake but I know he's trying to hide it.

            "Yes, I have. We've been talking for hours." Elyse is just standing there with ease. It's very hard to understand why Anthony would seem so scared of her. A man with a title of a Lieutenant-Colonel would really seem as understatement if he lets out a feeling of being scared of just one woman.  "Anyhow, I believe this is me leaving. I shall see you around Milady." She tilt her head to bow a little, "General." She gave Anthony that look I'll- see-you-around-too. And takes off, she just need few seconds to vanish from the crowd.

            I watch her disappear from my sight then turn to face my fiancé. He grabbed my arm gently and gestured to go back to the party.

            My day continues as the grand ball does. Exchange greetings from everyone. a couple of minutes to stand-by and chat with my cousins. And after dinner, a small dance was introduced in the hall. Anthony reach a hand for a dance, I take his hand and swift across the floor. Anthony is always warm and soft. But he is clumsy, that’s why he puts a certain amount of effort when I'm around him. I never doubt myself why I chose to marry him, until today. Whenever I look at him, his face fades and Elyse' face comes to vision. I close my eyes to get rid of the thought. I tilt my head down a bit, only Anthony catches my chin with his finger. "Are you all right my love?" he asks. The look on his face is new to me; he was never this troubled before. And he's always been tense since he saw me talking with Elyse, he keep looking back and forth, like he's looking for someone and getting ready as if we're going to be attacked. "No, I’m fine. I’m all right." I lie; I know he will be hurt if I tell him that I'm currently love-struck by Elyse. Should I say love-struck? No, that's not exactly. That's not what is happening here. I'm lost, body and soul. And it's leading me to have second thoughts about my engagement.

            All because of that woman.

            I take his finger and kiss it. I close my eyes again while kissing it. I should stop. I am engage. I should stop thinking about you.

            Althea… It whispers such a melody, a sweet melody.

            Althea…

            There it is again. As gentle as it always was, I know that voice. I open my eyes, on Anthony's left shoulder; a figure of a woman is looking directly at me. Elyse-- I open my mouth slightly to let out a bit of shock and surprise but I don’t want Anthony to notice so I turn into a sigh instead. I tried to look away, to not look from her direction. But the more I try to look away, the more I wanted to let go of Anthony’s hands and run after her. It's like defying gravity, which you can't. And no matter how much you try to defy it, it just pulls you back again. I look back at her again. This time, I could not stop myself, the look that I gave her agrees with her. She smiles and disappears again. I continued dancing with Anthony until the music stops. The moment it did, I excuse myself. I went straight ahead to one of the private room of the manor. I needed some air. I want to stop this. I put my hand in forehead and the other one on my stomach. I felt like vomiting. My head swirls and wont stop and before I could stop it. It came out. I rush my head to the window to let it all out. When it's done, I clean myself with a handkerchief. Am I pregnant? -- It can’t be.

            The next hours I spent lying in bed, drinking tea. Anthony is at the door, ordering the maid what to prepare for me if ever we needed something. He turns to me, and gave me his warmest smile.

            "We really need to prepare for this. I'm excited." He comes over me and kisses my forehead.

            "I never thought it'll be too soon. We need extra care and security now that you're pregnant.  I wonder what it would be? I want a boy, you know. Like me, strong, born to be the greatest." He chuckles. I just smile at him.

            "We will know soon." I said. I position myself to sleep. Anthony move to the other side so he can lay down beside me. I close my eyes and let myself lose to the drowsiness.

            That night, I had the most horrifying and most realistic dream.

            In my dream, I wake up seeing Anthony is not beside me. Rain pours heavily outside. Thunder crosses the sky. I got up. I put on my sleeping robe and slippers and wander out in the hall. I stop myself from two direction, if I go forward, I’ll find myself in the kitchen, and if I go right, I'll find myself in the balcony straight through far end of the hall. I know I will not find anything there, and it's not in Anthony’s nature to stand near the balcony in this wee hours, he usually gets cravings. So I decide to go forward to the kitchen, thinking I might find Anthony there, eating down his midnight cravings.

            A thunder flashes through the sky and in my peripheral view on my right I see a glimpse of it. It was a man kneeling with arms just below his waist. Shiver runs through my spine as soon as I laid my eyes on the man. Cold sweat brushed my temples; my breathing becomes hollow and ragged. I felt as if the whole world has gone cold and the oxygen seemed to be wearing off by the second. I felt my foot step forward followed by another. I try to be quiet and light on my feet. I wanted to know what I was seeing. I wanted to know who this man is kneeling on our porch. I felt a sudden fear that it could be a thief or a murderer, I don't know. And yet in my messed up brain, my body responds to unknown feeling of wanting to get near and discover something dangerous.

            As I get near, another thunder crosses again, the man moved and my body tensed, I stopped dead and for a second I see every detail of it. How the man changes into a large, hairy, man-like wolf.

            I walk slowly to reach the balcony again, I can see how his body changes. His fingers, grows in length and his nails turns into claws. Hairs growing all over his body, like a fur. And his ears start to get pointy, like a canine ear. His broad shoulders widen, his legs grow longer and his feet start to grow longer and starting to become a paw, a huge wolf-like paw. And then I look at his skin, I recognize his skin. A deep fair complexion skin becomes hairy and turns into black. I can't see his face because it seems like he's facing someone else. Someone shorter than him, petit and slim but the other person does not seem to be scared of what is front of him. Another thunder crosses the sky and I can see the other person but not clearly, just a mere shadow of him. A person with long hair and about five foot five tall is holding something on his right hand. It's like a sword.

            The wolf-like man growls at the person in front of him and started howling. I can't move a muscle. I'm so scared. I've never been scared. My feet are planted in the very tile that I am standing.

            The next scenario is something I never expected. After the wolf-like man stops howling, he seems to stop at something. His pointy nose curls and starts twitching, like he's sniffing. He turns his head on his right trying to find where the smell is, and then he stopped.

            The obvious is he found it.

            He turns his head on me. My mind became blank. My feet are frozen. I can't move a muscle. I am looking at the monster's very eyes. And those eyes are somewhat familiar. And all I could blurt out is...--

            "Anthony..?" The moment I said his name, the last thing that came out from my mouth, my whole body burns the very thought of it, the cold sweat lines down to my jaw. My eyes widen in terror and I could not blink or breathe. Because it was him!

            That wolf-like man is the man that I am engage with and the father of my unborn child.

            He is Anthony!

            Then I was pretty sure I made a wrong move, because my hand twitches and he rushes at me like a crazy dog. I try to move but it’s too late. The moment I step back, he is already in front of me. In just a blink of an eye, as the thunder crosses and flashes through the sky, I can see the hunger in his face. He waves his claws and no moment later, I can feel a sting in my chest.

            Something is dripping. Its sweat, I forcedly tell myself. But the sting grows stronger, and it starts to hurt so much. I'm starting to feel heavier, having hard time to breathe. I look down at my chest, I saw three cuts. Long cuts that rip across my chest covered with red stain spreading like strings of web interlocking with each other. I look at the monster and he puts up his claws and licks it. Another wave of horror flush through when he's about to wave his claws again to finish me, but a blade pierce through his chest from behind. The monster growls in pain. The blade was pulled free and the monster, with all of its strength, turns around to attack the person behind it.

            I wanted to shout, I wanted to tell him to run, to save his life and try not to face the monster, but my body fails me. I fell on the ground with my hand on my chest, one on the floor steadying my body. I could feel my flesh burning inside me as if someone has lighted a fire inside me and left it there to burn. My whole body aches, the pain from my wound is a poison spreading through my body.

            This is just a dream. I thought to myself. Just a dream and I'm going to wake up. I tell myself. But then everything feels so real, the pain in this dream feels so real and hurts more than any pain in my reality. I suck my breath one more time and try to move myself. I drag myself to a corner where I can rest my body. Wishing if I close my eyes again, I would wake up in the morning and see Anthony beside me on the bed.

            I felt the cold wall against me and press myself harder. I could hear faint whimpers and slashes in the air. My hearing is already betraying me. I couldn't hear the thunder anymore. I stare blankly at the monster and the man with a sword. I couldn't focus my sight but I can tell that they are killing each other. I'm starting to feel numb and still. My eyes start to get heavy and my visions are starting to get blurry. I wanted to stay awake and see if the man survives this but then again, I remembered that this is just a dream, that no matter who wins I will still wake up. I made a silent agreement with myself and I let the blackness blind me slowly. My eyes started to feel heavier and heavier, it began to drop slowly.

            As soon as I began to surrender myself totally to oblivion and pure darkness, an icy feeling brushes my cheeks and then down to my chest. At first, I thought it's just the side effects of waking up. But then the icy feeling started to shake my shoulders wildly, and slowly I can hear a voice. It was disoriented at first and blurred, then slowly, like tuning a radio to the right frequency, it became clear. "Stay with me, Althea. Stay with me." It says, the voice sounded so sweet but with a rush of nervousness and aggressiveness.

            Then suddenly, the icy feeling spread to my chest at one point then to another and I felt it sting inside me, something sticks inside my wound and the pain returned. I groaned and I wished the numbness to come back. But whatever that icy thing doing inside me, it keeps the pain stay much longer making my body responds to it and keeping away the numbness. I groaned again, this time it’s much louder than before. The icy thing brushed my lips. "Shh." Said the voice, quieting me. I nodded in return, although I did not know why I did. Every time that icy thing brushes inside me again, the pain comes back but I try not to groan. Finally my body tensed, the pain is still there but slowly fading away. My wound is trembling, I felt it move and starts to stitch itself back together. The moment I felt my wound closed in, the icy feeling spread from my legs and to my back, lifting me in the air.

            Then suddenly, I bolted awake.