Page 42 of The Agent and the Outlaw
“I have a bloody tail!” I tried to scream, but of course it came out as a warped growl.
Mon dieu. Yes, Charlotte, it’s true. You’re a werewolf.
Panic seized me. I needed to see just what I looked like. Was I an actual wolf? Or some kind of twisted monster?If only I had my looking glass.Then I remembered the river around the town. I could certainly see my reflection in that.
I attempted to stand, rather stupidly, and fell forward onto all fours. I took a few hesitant steps in this shortened creature form, gradually learning the muscle movements, and stumbled down the hill. It took a little bit of time, but eventually, I accustomed myself to walking with these strange, new limbs. One foot—er, paw—in front of the other. I traced my steps back toward the town, avoiding the road as much as possible. I didn’t want to stumble upon any late-night travelers, and I certainly didn’t want to be seen by thebêtesor found by Antoine.
Soon I came upon the river, black and glittering in the light of the moon. I padded down to the water and braced myself. I peered in.
What looked back at me wasn’t simply a wolf.From a distance, perhaps, I might look like one, but I had a shorter muzzle, longer teeth, and loping gangly limbs.I am a monster!I tried to contain the cry of anguish but could not. I unleashed another chilling howl that—had I still been human—would have terrified me to hear in the distance.
I sat at the edge of the river, my awkward haunches folded beneath me. I stared into the water at my red-brown eyes for what seemed like ages, contemplating my new aberrant existence, wondering how and why I’d been cursed, if there was a way back to a normal life, what it would mean for my future—if, indeed, I had a future. Were there others with this condition? Van Helsing had mentioned one other, but surely there were more. I couldn’t be the only one with this horrifying variation of the blood plague, could I?
Gradually, the sky began to pale to a blueish purple, and I realized with a wave of anxiety that sunrise was coming, and I’d left my clothes at the top of the hill. More importantly, I needed to figure out how to change back into, well,me.
I started to run, digging my claws into the damp earth and pushing myself forward. I’d never moved so fast before. Trees became a blur of brown and silver as I raced past. I leaped over fallen logs and brambles, feeling like I was truly flying. For a moment, my cares were all but forgotten.
I reached the hill in no time and trotted up to my neatly folded pile of garments. I laid down on the ground and took a deep breath, reaching for that place inside that I’d found earlier this evening. I quieted my mind, thought of my human body, tilted my head back and howled.
Again, the answering howl of another far off wolf, only this time, he seemed closer than before. Then came the fluttering in my stomach, the strange lightheadedness, and the gathering of something from within.
Then, the explosive pain.Putain de merde!It felt less intense than before, though still excruciating, and I wasn’t sure if that was because I was going from monster to human, or perhaps because I was mentally prepared for the utter agony of changing shape.
I was momentarily dazed when it stopped, but was immediately overset with exhaustion and hunger. I donned my clothes quickly, certain I looked horribly disheveled.Almost as if you spent the night romping about through the woods like a wild woman—or a werewolf,I thought with a frown.Dieu. How am I going to explain this to Antoine?
My heart pounded as I made my way down the hill toward the road again. I couldn’t tell him. He thought Van Helsing was mad to even consider this. Besides, he’d already told me he had every intention of going off on his own, on his stupid revenge mission to kill his father.Imbecile.He didn’t want to carry on with me, anyway, so whywouldI have to tell him? Let him think the doctor was crazy, that I was healed and healthy from the accident thanks to my impeccable constitution, and that I was going back to my normal, happy life back in Paris. He could believe all the lies I was giving up on telling myself.
And that is that,I thought with a vague sense of loss.
“Excuse me, Madame, but are you in need of some assistance?”
Lost in my own misery, I hadn’t noticed the approach of a figure from behind. Somewhat odd, considering my new supernatural senses seemed to take in everything all at once. I turned around to see a man on the road behind me, dressed in clothes so black they seemed to absorb every ray of light from the growing dawn.
The man removed his tricorne in a graceful sweep and bowed. His long black hair was pulled into a loose queue, and black eyes glittered beneath thick, dark brows. He was handsome, in an eerie sort of way.
“I heard you muttering to yourself,” he said with a slight accent. “You seem distressed.”
I felt my hackles rise—wait, do I still have hackles?
I surreptitiously rubbed a hand on the back of my neck. Nope. No fur.Dieu, Charlotte, pull yourself together! Remember who you are! You are an agent of les Dames Dangereuses and a comtesse, for goodness sake!
And…a werewolf?
I straightened.
“I wasn’t muttering,” I said firmly. “And it is improper for you to address me, as we haven’t been introduced, but I’ll forgive you this time, since you seem the chivalrous sort. Although…perhaps I shouldn’t make that assumption, given you’re suspiciously traipsing about through the countryside with no horse, carriage, or apparent aim.”
The dark man chuckled. “Forgive any impropriety. Your French customs are unknown to me. I’m here to visit a friend in the area and figured I’d make an early start.”
I arched a brow. Something about him seemed familiar, but I didn’t think we’d met. He couldn’t be with thebêtes, could he?
“Are you?” he took a careful step toward me. “In distress, I mean.”
“No,” I snapped, suddenly uneasy.
He nodded once and a small smile slowly tugged at the corners of his lips.
“I don’t mean to frighten you,” he said silkily. “I only wish to see you safely to your destination. Where I come from, it’s dangerous for young ladies to be out on the roads alone.”
