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Post by starrea on Jan 7, 2020 5:15:02 GMT
Lacey felt an unfamiliar blush of embarrassment bloom across her cheeks when he finally did speak and said some larger word she couldn’t understand. Thankfully, he seemed to understand because after a second he explained. Her embarrassment shifted into curiosity and she studied him again, as if she were looking for parts of him that were more wolf-like than human.
“I’ve heard about that. I used to be scared of them, of the stories I heard,”. She wanted to ask more, but she sensed that she’d dampened his mood and didn’t want to offend her new possible friend. Especially one so similar to her. She’d probably never meet anyone who could relate to her the way he could, and she wasn’t about to let her social ineptness ruin this for her.
“What’s it like out there? I haven’t been outside in a very long time... I can’t imagine things are still as they used to be.” Lacey used to try to remember everything exactly as it was, but then her memories started changing and fading and everything became frustrating. Now, whenever she thought about the outside, she imagined her favorite parts - like the leaves changing colors or wild flowers, but never memories.
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Post by Val on Jan 7, 2020 16:19:35 GMT
Wolfgang moved to sit on the edge of his cot, thinking to himself that she should be very scared of him. He was terrified of himself, especially now that he had no control over the beast. If he turned in this cell, nothing would hold him back- not the chains, not the bars, not even her power. He was convinced that he could tear her to pieces before her abilities had the chance to stall him.
He willed her question to distract him from the morbid trail of thoughts, taking a moment to think back 7 years ago. He would have been 27 and at the peak of his depravity. Those years of his life were somewhat of a blur; drugs, alcohol, and many women. It was was a rather depressing time, before he'd begun to straighten himself out and focus his efforts on finding a cure.
"I suppose it depends on your perspective. The world itself is the same; mother nature does her due diligence in ensuring that for us. The seasons, the tides, the moons..." he trailed off and gazed in her direction, "The kingdoms have grown. The cities and the population have grown. There was meant to be peace between the two kingdoms, but I believe that we will no longer achieve that dream."
"Where are your parents?" he asked suddenly, instantly regretting the insensitive question. The answer couldn't have been good.
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Post by starrea on Jan 7, 2020 17:48:18 GMT
At the same time Wolfgang was imagining him ripping Lacey apart, she was idly imagining his face - not his face, but the imagined face of what she though his werewolf looked like - contorted in pain, life being sucked out of him. She wondered if she killed the wolf in Wolfgang died as well. Nothing had ever survived her touch so why would Wolfgang be any different? It would be interesting which monster would win - her or the wolf.
Just as Lacey was unafraid of Wolfgang but probably should have been, she noticed he didn’t seem to take her very seriously as well. But then again, it was hard to be afraid of something when you were the scariest monster out there.
She suddenly smirked, as if just realizing the unfortunate happenstance of his name. She bet his parents weren’t counting on their son quite literally being a wolf. Unless they were, in which case would also rather amusing but in a sad sort of way.
His question snapped her out of her thoughts. It was so easy for her to get lost in them. “I don’t know where my parents are. My dad left when I was toddler and my mom turned me into the authorities.” Even though her mom hadn’t abandoned her like her dad, she had never been a mom. Moms were supposed to love their child, watch them grow, guide them and encourage them. Lacey was pretty sure her mom hated her. Which actually was fine in the end because after she was taken away, out of all the things she missed, her mom wasn’t one of them.
“Can you.. control changing? Can you call your wolf out?” Her question was equally insensitive, but she didn’t feel guilty about it. She was too curious at the thought of seeing such a monstrosity.
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Post by Val on Jan 8, 2020 4:30:10 GMT
So she didn't care much about the faults of her parents. He supposed it was hard to care about anything after being down here for so long. A sick part of him envied that. He missed his mother every day; father...not so much. Then again, if his father were still here, he wouldn't be the only werewolf on trial.
"I used to control it. I thought I had everything down to an exact science." That is until he and Sasha metaphorically poked the beast. Something had changed. He had been staring into the distance, but her second question suddenly got the gears turning in his mind. Call it out? He'd never done such a thing. In fact, he'd done absolutely everything in his power to suppress the wolf.
He looked at the girl, wondering if perhaps she was a genius of some kind. It was nice to get a fresh perspective on things, "I've never tried to call it out. I've never even tried to communicate with it..." he trailed off, wishing he had something to write his thoughts down on. He began to ramble, mostly to himself, "Perhaps I've gone about this all wrong. Maybe I should be trying to embrace; befriend it, even. That's what it wants, right? My cooperation," he paused to glance around the barren cell. This would be the perfect place to try it- no distractions, besides the girl of course.
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Post by starrea on Jan 8, 2020 16:10:15 GMT
Her words had an unexpected reaction and she blinked in surprise as he lost himself in his feverish ideas. She didn’t really understand most of what he was saying because she didn’t know him or much about werewolves but she nodded along nonetheless. He reminded her of the boy whose name was lost to her that came to visit her that one time.
While Wolfgang paced, Lacey remained seated on the cold floor. Her skin was already raw beneath the cuff. She used to pace too, and sometimes she still did, but that energy had long since been drained from her.
“Why don’t you try now?” Lacey asked tentatively when he finally fell silent. The idea of trying to touch the monster once again found its way into her thoughts and she fiddled with her hands idly as she imagined what he would like as he died.
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Post by Val on Jan 8, 2020 18:36:43 GMT
Wolfgang stopped his rambling and looked to her, as though suddenly remembering she was there. His mind was racing and, yes, he did want to try it. But not without precaution and time to heal. His body still ached from the last transformation, "Not yet," he murmured and heaved a sigh, gaze drifting toward the cell door. He still needed to talk to someone from the outside to understand the gravity of his situation and what they intended to do with him, "I will wait for them to come to me. They must come soon." If they didn't, he knew the wolf would take over on it's own terms when the full moon came.
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Post by starrea on Jan 8, 2020 20:02:01 GMT
Brief disappointment flashed across her face, but she told herself that she didn’t have a right to be disappointed. She bit back her urge to argue with him. Anyway, she could wait. They had all the time in the world down here.
She idly played with her chain as she watched Wolfgang attentively. She was worried that if she blinked, he would be gone. He seemed so... worked up. So anxious. Lacey used to be like too, but he would settle down eventually.
She felt a pang of guilt when he mentioned people coming for him. She remembered how she thought that too. The realization that no one was coming almost killed her, and it hurt her to know that he was going to go through it too. But even if she told him that no one was coming, he wouldn’t believe her. Hope is a bitch and only time would kill it.
Lacey couldn’t think of anything to say. There was nothing she could say to make it easier. So she changed the subject, “If you bite someone, and they live, do they become a werewolf?” She remembered hearing that as a kid, and she imagined herself as a tall, snarling wolf. Every bit as much of a monster on the outside as on the inside.
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Post by Val on Jan 10, 2020 22:21:24 GMT
Wolfgang squinted his eyes, as though trying to get a better look at her. He had expected to hear fear in her voice, but rather it sounded as though she was intrigued. He knew he should probably set her straight- tell her that it was not something to be taken lightly or even get excited about. But her curiosity reminded him very much of himself, "No," he answered, his tone confirming the fact that the scenario in question had already occurred...when he'd attacked his own brother.
"It's genetic," he paused, eyes rolling toward the ceiling as though he didn't want to finish the rest of his explanation, "And perhaps...magic," he added, as though the word frustrated him. He thought that magic was too often used to write off anything inexplicable. He liked to have all the facts, "A combination of both, neither of which result in...infecting another person."
"No need to worry," he added, though his gut told him she wasn't at all scared of the prospect of becoming a werewolf.
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Post by starrea on Jan 11, 2020 23:31:25 GMT
The dungeon wasn’t very stimulating, least of all intellectually, so Lacey’s realm of understanding was fairly small for someone her age. She knew that genetics related to the stuff passed down from parents to kids, but that was it. She hadn’t really considered if her condition was genetic or a result of something else. And if it was something else, what that something else might be. As far as she knew, no one else in her family had any sort of abilities. Lacey had just accepted her reality as it was.
She hummed lightly as he tried to calm her nonexistent nerves. They both knew she wasn’t afraid. As the silence drew out, she didn’t know what to say. It has been so long since she’d really talked to anyone and it was exhausting.
So she settled into the silence she had become so accustomed to and waited with Wolfgang, even though she knew no one was coming.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 14, 2020 23:14:26 GMT
It had been weeks since the massacre. A funeral had been held for the deceased, with special honours being given to the Queen the king had allowed to perish. Diplomatic relations with Nethilor were tense- Alaric seemed unstable, which made unpredictable. The last thing Alister wanted was a war with the neighbouring kingdom. He had nothing to gain from it. And yet, something had to be done to appease the king and his scorned daughter. He had no doubt that they would want Wolfgang’s head. He didn’t see a reason not to give it to them.
The king was flanked by his kings guard, who held torches in their hands, guiding their steps. Alister, dressed in mourning black, looked like naught but a shadow as he approached Wolfgang’s cell. He spared only the briefest of glances on Lacey. Ah yes, the child killer. Perhaps Roman had been right. A tighter hand was needed to quell the dangerous magics which plagued the kingdom. For many ages, dark magic had been Raevaryn’s greatest pride and best defence. Perhaps they were paying for that now, with mutations afflicting their vessels rather than aiding them.
The king called his guards to a halt and approached the bars, clasping his hands behind his back. “Wolfgang Van Dam. I truly never thought I would see you in a predicament like this. Did you know you killed my queen?” Alister’s piercing eyes bored into Wolfgang, a man he’d once considered an ally.
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Post by Val on Jan 15, 2020 0:23:53 GMT
Wolfgang had been inspired by his conversation with Lacey. At first, he'd been too restless and too afraid to attempt to reach out to the beast within. But as the days passed and time had begun to blur, he'd started trying to communicate with the wolf. It was something he'd never attempted before, but imprisonment had created the perfect conditions to experiment. Silence. Darkness. Solitude. All things he'd never truly experienced in his life. At first, he'd begun to lose hope over his efforts. Even when he made contact with the wolf, it lashed out at him. Eventually, though, he began to make progress. Against his better judgement and to his complete shock, he was beginning to develop a connection with the curse he'd longed to be rid off.
When Alister finally made his appearance, Wolfgang had been seated cross legged in the center of the dark cell, eyes closed, appearing as though he was meditating. Only when his name was announced to break the deafening silence did he suddenly snap back to reality. He rushed to his feet and stared out at the king, overwhelmed with relief that someone had finally come to speak with him. But that relief was short lived when he heard what the man had to say.
He opened his mouth, but for once, Wolfgang Van Dam was at a loss for words, "My apologies will never make up for what happened," he managed finally, his voice hoarse from disuse. He did not remember killing Yasmin and he cursed the wolf for his horrendous choice in victims. He moved forward slowly until he reached the end of the chains that bound his feet. The once suave and groomed nobleman was almost unrecognizable from his time in the dungeons, but his brilliant eyes still pierced the darkness, "Who else?" he asked quietly, desperately needing confirmation on who he had killed and who was safe.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 15, 2020 4:56:02 GMT
Of course, Yasmin's loss was no real loss to him. He could not let Wolfgang know, however. No one but Nadia could know. As Wolfgang asked for a list of victims, Alister considered withholding the information. But in the end, it would be more painful for Wolfgang to know who he had killed. "Princess Evolet's confidants, the ladies Arabella and Poppy. A man from our own court, Monroe, and a handful of other lesser nobles. Others were injured in the stampede that ensued when they all tried to escape." Alister crossed his arms over his chest, contemplating his next moves. "Why didn't you come to me, Van Dam? Did you believe I would not help you, protect you?" He knew it was useless to question the past. It wouldn't change anything. But it angered him that Wolfgang had kept such a deadly secret, a secret that was causing him no end of headaches now.
"You must tell me everything about your affliction. When it appeared, when it happens, what it's like. What treatments you've tried, if any. I must know everything you do now, Wolfgang. Holding back will only serve you worse. As it stands, people are calling for your death. King Alaric is outraged and I believe he thinks I had some hand in this, that I intentionally wanted to unite his precious child with a beast. So you can understand, the Nethilor family wants your head as compensation for the possibility that Evolet could have lost hers." His voice was calm and smooth, giving nothing away. Alister had no qualms killing Wolfgang. In fact, he was all but reserved to that fate.
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Post by Val on Jan 15, 2020 17:05:09 GMT
Wolfgang let each name register in his mind before he was forced to turn away in order to maintain some sense of composure. The guilt was immense, but the sense of relief was perhaps stronger. Terrowin was safe. Sebastian was safe. Evolet was safe. The wolf had caused great damage, but his loved ones were okay. He ran a hand through his thick hair and exhaled heavily before turning back to the King. Did he believe Alister would have protected him? He'd never considered it. His father had ingrained within him the absolute importance of keeping their family's secret.
"I've had it under control for so many years. I never meant to endanger anyone," he tried to explain, but the words felt useless falling from his mouth. He paused for a long moment to ground himself. He didn't have to be the desperate prisoner, he could still be the man he'd always been, "Everything you need to know lies within my University. In my personal office you will find all of my research, all of the journals I've kept over the years. They will explain every detail of my condition and others like it."
"I have nothing left to hide," he insisted. But at that moment, the wolf within him made itself known. In his mind's eye, he could see it prowling and snarling in response to Alister's prying. The message was clear; it wanted the King dead. Despite the turmoil within, Wolfgang remained carefully composed, "If it's any consolation, I was planning on revoking my offer of marriage," he added, the dry humor sounding pitiful under the circumstances. He didn't blame anyone for wanting him dead. But that somehow didn't squash his hope of one day being forgiven.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 15, 2020 21:31:38 GMT
Alister listened, rubbing his jaw. Some facial hair had grown there, as he had been too busy to shave in the last several days. It made the king, usually suave and elegant, look rugged and dangerous. “I will have someone go through your research. What if your brother, Sebastian? Is he afflicted as well?” If he was, he would have to be imprisoned too. He doubted Wolfgang would tell him the truth, if he was. He would try to protect his younger sibling and that would not do.
“What would you do with you, if you were me?” Alister pondered. He would confer with Bram and Roman, of course. But he had a feeling he knew how it would end. Alister has already decided on execution, skipping a trial completely.
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Post by Val on Jan 16, 2020 3:29:29 GMT
"Sebastian is innocent. He's not like me." Truth be told, Sebastian was better than him in every sense of the word, "My father. He was cursed as well. It's all in my research," he insisted. It felt almost therapeutic to come out of hiding and hand over his life's work. Perhaps he should have done it willingly long ago, before it was too late.
He stared back at Alister, shaking his head slowly, begging him not to say the inevitable. He knew what he deserved, and yet he didn't want to die, "I deserve a trial, Alister. I am not evil. I did not ask for this. Keep me alive so that I may find a cure and help countless others," he made his case with conviction, "I have always been loyal to you. I will remain loyal. I will owe you everything."
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