As the dark clouds part, a single beam of moonlight shines through the cell’s window and dances across his face. Opening his eyes the dried blood cracks on his face. Shifting slightly on his position hanging on the wall he can just see the back of the valve haired girl chained over the bench. Her blue dress, once beautiful, now torn and dirty. The back almost completely gone from the nine tails they had lashed her with. Leaving wounds all over it. Most had dried but some still seeped small amounts of blood out. How he had raged when they had done that. But all it had achieved was been hit with a large chunk of timber to silence him.
“Cecelia.”His voice comes out as a croak from days without water and food. At her silence, he begins to panic.
“Cecelia. Please answer me!” His voice coming out in a cracking plea. Her manacles rattle a little as she shifts to look at him.
“I’m here Ethan. Don’t strain yourself please. I think we may have gone too far this time. I don’t see us getting out of here alive.” Straining against his manacles he turns towards her.
“I have a way. I can get us free.” Seeing the beam of moonlight on his face she realises what he means and fear fills her.
“Not that Ethan. Anything but that, please. It nearly killed you last time. It’s not worth it.”
“It is to keep you alive.” Swinging his legs from side to side he begins to slide across the wall. The rough stone slicing and cutting his back. Ignoring the pain and the blood running down his back, he keeps going until one arm is free on every other swing. Then at the height of one, he reaches, straining and catches hold of the necklace against his chest. As gravity pulls him back the other way the necklace tears from him, landing on the ground in the shadows with a soft metallic clatter. No longer swinging his legs he quickly slides to a halt. Stopping finally the moonlight begins the fill him with energy. Giving into it he allows the change to take him. Suppressing his cries of pain as his bones begin to rearrange. The manacles around his wrists begin to strain as they grow fatter finally giving way with a piercing shriek. Landing lightly on the ground on padded feet he draws himself to his full height his transformation complete. Passing over to the girl he reaches down and snaps the manacles off her as if they were made of paper. Looking into her face he recognises the tears running down it. Leaving streaks in it. With a whimper, he bows his head and nudges her. With a sob laugh, she whispers which he catches with his enhanced hearing.
“You never change. God, I love you.” Before he can react to her statement his ears pick up the sound of the key being turned In the dungeon door. With a growl, he vaults towards it and hits with such force the door shatters. Standing with his hand out a key enclosed in it, a stupid look crosses the mans face at finding a nine-foot werewolf waiting for him. With a roar, his clawed hand lashes out tearing the men head off. Watching as the body slumps to the floor he turns and pads back over to the woman. Leaning down he carefully scoops her up into his arms, turning back towards the door. It’s then his ears pick up the sounds of rubbing footsteps and shouts.
“You fools. It’s the full moon and you left him in front of the window. Hurry before changes.” Turning from the door and the dead body he looks around the dungeon. Finally settling his gaze on a metal barred window twelve feet from the ground. With a roar he leaps towards it, claws digging into the brickwork above it. Moving Cecelia to his left shoulder he rams the wall with his right. The bars rattling in their sockets. Touching his face she bids him to stop. Taking a breath she leans forwards and blue aura envelops her. With words that ring in his ears, the bars explode outwards. Scooping her into his arms again he dives through the hole. Landing awkwardly on the tiled roof. Sliding to the edge he vaults over. Sliding down the wall using his claws to slow their momentum. Leaping as he nears the ground he lands heavily. Regaining his feet he takes a step as the sound of a bowshot rings out. With a roar, he drops to his knees clutching his left shoulder. A barbed arrow embedded there. Standing on the wall running from the castle, archers take up position their bows drawn.
“Ethan put me down.” Looking into the woman’s face he lowers her to the ground at the look of rage In her eyes. Walking around behind him she stands between the archers and his back. Turning he watches as black miasma begins to blossom around her. Her voice seems to echo from everywhere as she talks.
“Now you shall taste my watch and you will know what happens to those who stand against the witch of the dawn!” As her words finish the black miasma sucks into the ground and all around the wall the archers burst into flame. Their screams echoing through the streets and the smell of burnt flesh quickly filling the air. Walking back around to his front she leans against his chest and he scoops her up once more.
“Now let’s get out of here my love.” With renewed strength he leaps up the walls where the dead soldiers lay burning. And leaping off the edge of the wall lands with a soft splash into the river below. As they climb out he opposing bank alarms begin to sound in the castle town above them. Walking into the trees the darkness sobs swallows them and standing on the edge of the wall looking down an arrogant faced man watches with a smile.
“This is far from over witch. Mark my words.” Turning back to the town, he laughs as a wolfs howls echoes into the night.
