My night was a bust, thinking about everything. I wanted to know more about my mom. I knew she was a witch and wolf. My dad and the Headmistress were keeping secrets from me. I didn't know who I could really trust anymore. When I went to normal school, my mind kept going back to the reservation with the wolves.
I knew I would need to talk with Mike again eventually, and it would give me a chance to do some investigation work on my mom. I don't care what all they told me. I wasn't going to get the truth from them, might as well figure it all out myself. After normal school was over with, I headed to the Mason's Mansion. Instead of heading towards the magic academy, I shifted my thoughts to the reservation.
Picturing the village in my mind. I thought about Marley, and how I wanted to talk to her again. I thought about my mom, how I wanted to know more. I needed to know more. I thought about the Headmistress, and my dad being weird about my mom. Then, the reservation came into my mind, The Falls of Blue.
Cassie had remembered seeing the sign on the reservation, stating the name of it. Closing her eyes, Cassie waved her hands out in front of her. Feeling the power reside in her body. She felt her hands go up, and then sideways, thinking about the reservation.
"Mystery surrounds me, thinking of you, take me to the place called the Falls of Blue." I peeked an eye open, there was the portal, and just through it, the reservation.
My portal no longer contained the hint of red from earlier, it now shimmered white sparkles at me. I went through it to the other side. The same nauseating feeling knocking me off balance. There I was, in the reservation, I couldn't believe that the spell had worked.
As I stepped on the reservation, I took notes on how the wolves viewed me. Some I could tell didn't like me. Which would make sense, because their Alpha, and I had a little showdown. I made my way over to Marley's shop. I walked in, she wasn't in the front. I looked around, she mainly sold jewelry, amulets. Amulets. That's right, the wolves wore them to protect them. Cassie thought for a moment, did she need an amulet?
She also noticed how her Aunt Marley sold books as well. Cassie made her way over to a pile of books that had yet begun to be put on the shelf. She started to go through them, until she found a history book about werewolves. Cassie picked it up, and made her way over to one of the antique tables in the store.
She sat down, and looked at the cover better, "The History of the Falls of Blue."
Cassie flipped to the contents page, there were the wolves powers. Not to mention, the jewelry, especially the amulets. It also talked about the different people who founded the village, and some famous wolves. Cassie was fascinated with the book.
She first flipped to the page with the amulets. Some wolves require to have a sort of moon jewelry. The Fall of Blue wolves wore amulets. It signified their tribe, and became their signature for identifying the pack itself.
Their tribe witches put spells to help the wolves keep their human, or wolf side in check. It also helped for them to connect, and talk to their wolves as well. Cassie was in amazement at the fact that the amulets held so much power of the wolves.
It not only helped to recharge the wolves, but also kept them in control. They couldn't come out unless the humans wanted them too. She flipped to another page about the reservation itself. Cassie took note of all the buildings that were originally here. How with each new building, there was a new page of the layout of the land. Almost like a map, where you knew where everything was.
Cassie flipped onto another page, it was the famous people that were in the tribe. Some were celebrities like Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lawrence, and Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. The last one made sense, and not because the Rock is built out of muscles either. His muscles, Cassie smirked to herself, bringing up an image of him in her mind.
She signed, she thought about the dude from Criminal Minds Spencer Reid, Then, Johnny Depp, mentally laughing that he played a wolf in the movie Into the Woods. Her thoughts went to the dude from The Rookie, Tim Bradford. Now that man, her heart fluttered for.
Cassie brought herself back to the book, letting her mind wander onto something else. There were other people in the book that weren't famous. She almost turned the page, but then she saw her mom's name. Her mom. Meganie Ladronya Fox.
She was a well known powerful witch in the tribe. Pictured next to her was her Aunt Marley. They were smiling; they looked so similar, except for the fact that Aunt Marley had a mole next to her mouth. It was small, but on some level noticeable. I looked at my mom. We looked so much alike. My breath caught in my throat.
I flipped the page again. I didn't want to look at it anymore. I didn't feel like crying. The next page contained all the powers that were known to werewolves. The first one being obvious, an infectious bite to some. Meaning, some supernatural beings were immune to werewolf bites. It even gave a whole list, I quickly glanced over it. Demons, Fairies, and Dragons were the only ones immune to werewolf bites.
Other obvious ones were shape-shifting, speed, and of course our strength increased. What surprised me was the regeneration part. Where wolves can heal themselves. I mean I guess that would make sense. Dogs in general have the ability to lick themselves to prevent infection from happening. On some level that made sense.
What also slightly surprised me, but not completely, was the telepathy. A lot of people have the ability to be able to use telepathy. Can't forget about the epic power of having night vision, good agility and durability. Also, werewolf senses were what is the word, heightened, our senses were heightened.
I thought about my own powers compared to what I read. I mean I know I have telepathy. I might have the ability to transform into a wolf, which would make sense. I thought about being a witch too, would that have any affect on me transforming since I wasn't a full wolf. However, I was also born a wolf, according to my dad, and the living remnants of my mom.
I wasn't bitten, even though I almost was, which wouldn't have mattered either way. Maybe the speed of the process of me transforming into a wolf would've happened sooner. I wondered if wolf bites affected other wolves? I wouldn't think it would, considering it only changes you into a werewolf. As Cassie was coming to the ending of the page, Aunt Marley walked in.
At first she was surprised to see Cassie there, almost dropping the books she held in her hand. "Cassie, I didn't know you were going to be here."
"I wasn't going to come back. I just kept thinking about everything." Cassie replied, her gaze returning to the book.
Aunt Marley made her way over to Cassie. Which Cassie looked up from, she looked at the spot by her mouth, from when she looked at the picture. There wasn't a mole there, weird. Maybe Cassie looked at it wrong, but could you also clearly see the mole. Right? Cassie thought maybe she was going crazy for a moment.
Aunt Marley looked at the powers of the werewolves. She only said "Hm," to Cassie.
"What?" Cassie asked, shrugging her shoulders.
"You should eventually learn how to contain your wolf side." Aunt Marley said, turning her back to put up some books.
"What do you mean?"
"Learn to control your wolf, have you met your wolf?"
"No, I was only told I was part wolf."
Aunt Marley whipped around, "You mean to tell me they told you that you were a wolf without you transforming first?"
"Um yeah," Cassie said, questioningly, shrugging her shoulders while tilting her head to the side.
"Such a shame, you need to learn it soon." Aunt Marley started muttering how disgraceful they were for not teaching me.
"Hey Aunt Marley, how do you deal with being a witch and wolf?"
Aunt Marley came to sit with me. She took my hands in hers. I noticed that she didn't have an amulet either.
"Cassie, dear, I just learned to control both sides. Learning control is the best thing you can do in this world. That way you can't harm others, or have others harm you. You'll learn to use your powers when you need them."
"Yeah, I have been told." Cassie said, rolling her eyes, and sighing, her attention caught back on the book. It just fascinated her.
Aunt Marley lifted her finger to Cassie's chin, signaling for her to turn towards her. "What are you so worried about dear?"
"My life. How is it going to be impacted now that I am both a witch and wolf. What does that mean? How are people going to view me, and am I now a threat?" Cassie said, breathlessly.
"Dear, you shouldn't let others depict what you feel or see. People's opinions shouldn't matter. You choose who, and what matters. As far as the threat, it just depends on you Cassie. I don't think you're a threat, but those who are gifted with extremely strong powers, can often be seen as a threat by others. People are scared of what they don't understand."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I have lived a long life Cassie. As far as what it means, well that is something you need to figure out, all on your own kid."
Cassie sighed with her shoulders, "I know, I just figured having someone who has already lived through it might be helpful."
"I know, I wished I had someone my age to help me. Just know I am here for you no matter what. Ask me anything else."
Cassie looked up then, "Is it hard being both?"
Aunt Marley took a second to think about it, "Sometimes."
"How come just some times?"
"People look at you differently. I was born this way. Some people get chosen. I'm also not just a wolf around here."
"What do you mean?" Cassie said, looking up at her, concerned about filling her face.
Aunt Marley sighed, "It's one of those things you'll figure out for yourself Cassie.."
"How come you don't wear an amulet like the other wolves?"
"I know how to keep control over my wolf. The amulets are to help those with either self-control issues, which werewolves have."
"So you have self-control?"
"It's part of being a witch too. I have to learn to control my powers, might as well learn to control my wolf while I am at it. Some wolves can learn control, and the school is helping with it too."
. Cassie kept flipping through the book, amazed at everything she read. One page stuck out to her, it was the prophecy, she found it again. Why was it in this book? Questions started to bubble up.
Yelling, "Aunt Marley I have a question."
Aunt Marley had already made her way to the back. She poked her head out of the doorway in the back of the store. Cassie got up, and took the book to her.
"What do you know about this?"
Aunt Marley came over, and glanced down at the book. She looked back up at Cassie, her gaze scanning Cassie's face. Aunt Marley looked down at the book, furrowing her eyebrows together.
"It's just a prophecy dear, nothing special, some of these aren't even real." Aunt Marley said, a slight strain in her smile.
"Oh," Cassie replied, her own eyebrows furrowing.
Cassie made her way back to the table, sitting back down. She went back to looking at the book. Eventually, she had enough, and got up, putting the book back where she found it. She was stretching her legs out.
She wondered if she would need an amulet. Cassie didn't need one just yet, maybe that will be different when she has her wolf. Her aunt mentioned that they could talk to each other, her and her wolf. Did that mean her wolf was a whole being itself, trapped in her mind?
As Cassie was standing there, a group of wolves came in. She noticed one of the ones in particular. The wolf that tried attacking her, and the one that bit Max. Cassie wondered why she was still here. She tried to not make eye contact with them, but it was hard when they were staring directly into her soul. She could feel their gaze set upon her.
Cassie couldn't tell if it was good, or bad yet. She hadn't sensed any tension there. They were shopping, but really looking at her. The wolf that had tried to attack Cassie finally approached her.
"Hi, I don't know if you remember, but I almost bit you." The girl was nice looking, she had a pixie cut black hair, with freckles spreading across her face. Her green eyes popped out at me.
"You can't exactly forget almost being bitten." I said with a laugh to her.
"Yeah, I am really sorry about that. I get real competitive, and sometimes I am just a bitch. I am Ellie by the way. This is John and Mia." Ellie said, gesturing towards the other two wolves.
John had a rough edge look to him, like he didn't exactly fit in here. His dark brown hair reaching his shoulders, he reminded me of a hippie. I could see the brown tints in his eyes.
Mia was the complete opposite, her red curls stopping just a little past her shoulders. Her smile could light up the room, she had dimples on each side.
"You were kind of a bitch, sorry." I replied back.
Ellie only shrugged at me. "So you're a wolf either way right?"
"Yeah, except I haven't actually met my wolf, or transformed." Cassie said, glancing around, suddenly nervous saying it.
"You haven't transformed yet?" Ellie asked, her eyebrows raising. Her hands went to her hips.
"Well yeah."
"How do you even know you're a wolf then?"
"Both of my parents were born wolves. It so happens that born wolves who have born wolves, are wolves."
"Right, so listen, if you ever need anyone to train you let us know. You know when you do decide to become a wolf."
"Thanks?" Cassie replied back, hesitant.
Ellie nodded her head, she began heading towards the door. John and Mia were right behind her. She paused, "Listen, I know I can sound like a real bitch, but I genuinely mean some of the shit I say."
Cassie nodded her head, "Noted. Thanks for the offer."
It was Ellie's turn to nod her head towards her. Once they left I hollered., "Aunt Marley can you come here?"
Aunt Marley stumbled out of the back, "Yes Cassie?"
"How do I unlock my wolf side?"
Aunt Marley smiled at me, "Usually it's the full moon, but we can just do a spell too."
"That works. Let's do it."
"Are you sure? It can be uncomfortable."
"I want to do this. It's a part of who I am."
Aunt Marley clapped her hands together, "Let me grab my ingredients, and my cauldron, stay right there dear."
Cassie stayed in the front of the shop as Aunt Marley gathered everything. When Aunt Marley was finally finished, she was carrying a bag, and started to head towards the door to the shop.
"Were not doing the spell in here?" Cassie asked, looking around the shop.
"Oh god no, you'll destroy everything."
"So, then where are we heading?"
"Into the woods.."
With that I followed Aunt Marley out the shop, and into the woods that wasn't that far. On the way, I began talking to her. "You said I'll destroy everything?"
"Yes, the spell will be immediate almost. You'll start transforming after we complete the spell."
"And you said it would be uncomfortable?"
"Oh, yes, it'll be painful."
Cassie was glad she didn't bring Oreo with her this time, even though she missed her. Having a familiar meant everything to a witch, but Cassie knew that she needed to do this. She also knew that she would need to learn to control her wolf before letting Oreo around her. Cassie didn't want her wolf accidentally hurting her familiar.
The conversation was short lived as they made it to a clearing in the woods. Aunt Marley put her cauldron on a tree stump. She could barely reach it herself. Aunt Marley started to pull different ingredients out of her bag. Cassie watched as she pulled out Wolfsbane, being careful herself.
Cassie remembered one of her classes, how the Wolfsbane had touched her. She rubbed at her hand, the tingling feeling there. It was unpleasant. Cassie began to wonder how the transformation would feel.
I mean Aunt Marley did say it was going to be painful. Would it be like that every single time? Cassie hoped that it wouldn't, she wouldn't know what to do with herself. If that was even the case. She was reminded of her mom once more.
Did she experience this too? Was it during a full moon? Did her mom have to ever wear an amulet herself? How did her mom handle being a witch, and wolf? What was that like? The questions just kept piling up.
Cassie looked up at her Aunt Marley. The woman who looked exactly like her mother. How easily the roles could've been switched the night her mom died. She thought about how her life would be completely different. Her mom would be here, teaching her everything she knew. It wasn't that way though. It was her aunt, and Cassie was having to figure out everything by herself.
Sure maybe her dad could help, but he wouldn't fully understand. Cassie remembered how flustered and nervous he was to tell her that she was a witch, much less a wolf too. She didn't want to have to worry, or stress her dad as much. Cassie didn't even know where to begin with him.
There was so much that she wanted to know now. She never asked questions about her mom, it always upset her dad. Now she knew why, the real reason. Ever since finding out she was a witch, Cassie knew a part of her never made complete sense. Now, being a wolf too, it was just clicking for her. She was finding out more, and more about herself. It brought up questions about her mom though. The person she thought she knew. It was all a lie, for the most part.
For the most part, Cassie was glad to finally find out the truth about everything. It was nice getting to learn this stuff about her parents. Finding her lost aunt was something special to her. It was a way for her to connect to her mom on another level. She saw what it did for her aunt too. She didn't think to ask about her other family members.
"Aunt Marley, don't we have any other family members here?"
Without a second thought, "No, they are all dead, besides me."
"Oh, well what about my dad?"
Aunt Marley turned around, "They are dead as well."
Cassie folded her arms across her chest. Disappointment displayed across her face. Aunt Marley came over, and hugged her. "I am sorry my dear Cassie, I know it's hard."
Holding back tears, "I just, I don't know, I thought maybe I had more family."
Aunt Marley tucked a hair behind my ear, caressing my face in her eyes, and looking me in my eyes. "Cassie dear, family isn't blood it's who you make out of it. From what you have told me, you have a wonderful family."
Cassie only nodded her head, "I know you're right, but I still had hope you know." With one hand covering her jacket, Cassie pulled it up to wipe snot from her nose from crying.
Aunt Marley patted her on the shoulder, "The potion is ready, we just need to say a spell over it. Are you sure you still want to do this?"
Cassie looked around at the woods. The animals, she thought about how maybe her parents ran through these woods. Both as human, and in their wolf forms. She took a deep breath.
"Absolutely."
Aunt Marley smiled, "Excellent, let's go over to the cauldron shall we."
They walked over to the cauldron. Aunt Marley placed Cassie directly across from her. Then, she went to her bag, grabbing out a dagger. What was up with witches, and daggers man?
Aunt Marley stretched her hand, motioning for me to give her my own hand. I gave it to her, "This may sting a little dear."
Deja vu flashing in my mind from the goat sacrifice. A shudder escaped throughout my body. My stomach began to do flips. I could feel the sweat beginning to form on my skin. I turned my head away.
I could feel a slight tingling in my skin, signaling that she had made a cut. She turned my hand over, emptying a couple of my drops into the cauldron.
I could feel the sticky warm substance sliding down my hand. Aunt Marley quickly put a bandage over it. "I don't need an amulet?" I asked quickly.
Aunt Marley looked up at me then, "No Cassie, you come from a powerful witch wolf family. We don't use amulets."
"Oh, I just thought maybe I needed one to start out with."
I could feel Aunt Marley's stare through my soul. I had to glance away from her. "No," was all that she had said to me.
Aunt Marley's attention was fixed on the cauldron. She began to wave her head, then, she whispered, "Transformia."
The cauldron started to bubble a little. Aunt Marley drew a small mug from her cloak. Dipping it into the cauldron. Once the cup was full, she handed it to me.
"Drink it dear."
I grabbed it from her, holding up to my noise. A present disgusting odor, I felt like vomiting. It wasn't great. Holding my nose together with one hand, and with the other chugging down the drink.
I didn't feel anything at first. Then, it hit me like bricks. I doubled over. I could feel my muscles crunching, and scraping each other. I kept yelping at the unbearable pain. It lasted for a second, then I was on all fours, coated with fur.