"Leave her alone," Diana ordered. The man turned to glance at the woman who dared to order him.
"Excuse me?"
Diana raised her hand so fast that nobody saw it coming and before anyone could react, she had landed it across his face, giving him a resounding slap. The man's head turned to the other side and everyone gasped. Even his subordinates were surprised, they moved back subconsciously.
Chuckling, the man turned to face Diana. He saw her eyes glowing a dim red. Although it was almost unnoticeable, he could tell because of how close he was. He glared murderously at her. Rather than releasing his grip on Maggie, he tightened it. Maggie yelped in pain.
Diana sent a punch to his jaw and the man's head went up. His jawbone shifted from its position.
Diana did not give him a break or a chance to hit back, she raised the table and slammed it over his head, then she pulled Maggie away from his grip.
His subordinates were confused about what to do. Were they to fight back or run for their lives? A brave woman who was also strong enough to beat their boss to that extent was to be feared. Diana sent a kick to his stomach to have him fly a few feet back. That was it. That was all it took to have his subordinates run for their dear lives.
The man managed to stand up, staring murderously at Diana. He was more than enraged and what annoyed him the most was that he couldn't say anything to her because of the broken jawbone. He pointed at her and put his hand to his throat, a sign that he was going to kill her. But Diana, knowing that he couldn't speak, decided to taunt him and misinterpret his signal.
"What?" She mocked. "You know that I can kill you? Of course, you should understand that I'm strong enough to kill you."
The man growled. He bent over a little, spreading his arms as if he was about to catch an animal on the loose. Diana on the other hand, stood freely as if she wasn't bothered about what was going to happen. Well in truth, she wasn't bothered in the least.
Maggie was shaken. She had never been grabbed so terribly and it brought tears to her eyes. But seeing Diana who seemed fearful and timid and so innocent, facing off with such a bulky and scary-looking man was something she couldn't take her eyes off. She kept staring without blinking as she did not want to miss any detail.
"Go back to whoever sent you and tell them that I, Diana, am not afraid of anybody," Diana said. Her eyes were so dominating and just by staring into them, the man felt compelled to obey her. He released himself and stood freely. As if being charmed, he blinked twice and left.
The onlookers stared from his retreating figure to Diana who stood like a tigress, watching over her prey.
They couldn't tell if anything was wrong with her eyes, but they also didn't want to find out. The owner of the kitchen walked over to her.
"As much as I appreciate you for helping me to prevent those idiots from breaking or destroying my kitchen, I will also have to ask you to leave."
Diana snorted at him and grabbed Maggie by the arm. The other woman was immediately jolted out of her trance. She watched herself being pulled away by Diana. They left the kitchen and started the journey home.
"Diana, wow," Maggie whispered. "How...?"
"How what?"
"How were you able to ... To pull such a stunt?
How did you manage to do it?!"
"Oh, that," Diana said as if it was nothing. Being a werewolf gave her leverage over them. But she wasn't going to tell Maggie! Maggie was a blabber and didn't even know how to not say she had said something!
"Yes, that. Come on, don't withhold any information from me!" Maggie pleaded.
Diana chuckled. "Maggie!" She whined. "There is nothing to say. I... I just think it's that feeling when you're overcome by anger and you just do whatever comes into your mind."
"Girl, I'm not talking about that!" Maggie refuted. "I meant.. the blows and the kick and the slap, girl that was hot as fire!"
"It was the same feeling," Diana said. "It's beginning to hurt a little. Perhaps you could massage it for me when we arrive home?"
Maggie smiled. "Of course, I will do that!"
"Then that's settled, let's go," Diana said. The rest of the journey was done in silence. A very comfortable silence where the both of them enjoyed the weather. Each one was lost in thought and neither was ready to interrupt the other's thought.
Calhoun started the trembling man before him. He was finally ready to see Thomas but the man had become so frail and thin, almost as if his life was being sucked out of him. Calhoun wasn't bothered by his appearance. All he knew was that he had to find Diana and he had to do it fast.
"Thomas." Calhoun hummed. "When Diana came in here, she had so many wrong impressions about being here and I take it that it was all your intention."
"My king." Thomas shook before him. Calhoun's eyes were dark and compelling. Staring into his glowing red eyes felt like he was falling into the deep abyss of hell fire. His entire body broke out in sweats. "I can swear on my life-"
"Of course, you wouldn't be alive after this." Calhoun tsked. "So you can swear all you want. It doesn't change anything at all!"
"My king, I swear! I don't have any idea about her disappearance!" Thomas pleaded.
"No, you do," Calhoun said.
"No, my king!" Thomas exclaimed.
"No, you do? No, I'm lying?" Calhoun asked.
"N..no. No, it's not that." Thomas stuttered.
Calhoun chuckled dryly. "Take him away, he's not ready to speak."
"No, my king! I swear Diana has never shown any signs of ever wanting to run away." Thomas confessed. "I only know that she has a relation who stays in Sunshine town."
"Sunshine town? But I sent some messengers there and they didn't find her." Calhoun stated. "Take him to the stand, he's not ready to speak. I think Thomas has gambled so much that he lost his sense."
"My king, I beg you! I have no idea where Diana could be!" Thomas pleaded. Calhoun ignored him. Two guards came up by his side and took him away, back into the deepest part of the dungeon. His pleading screams filled the walls of the castle as he was being carried away.
Calhoun got up from his throne and walked slowly to the door of the castle. Getting there, he paused. His eyes turned cold instantly and he turned back. He walked through the left passage and stopped at the staircase before him. His eyes trailed the steps as he climbed them.
He turned the first, the second, the third, and up to the sixth before he finally arrived at the top. He was again at his tower. In his castle, there were four towers. East, West, North, and South. Calhoun mostly stayed at the eastern tower, but today he had gone to the western tower.
He stood by the window and stared into the distance. The moon was coming up into the clear sky. It was bid and almost full. Staring at it, he could feel a deep lust for blood. His teeth were becoming jagged. His eyes dilated and transformed. His body became hairy as his greyish fur came out completely. His hands and feet began to grow long and talons protruded from each finger and toe. His head widened and morphed into that of a wolf. Calhoun was a very big werewolf and he was feared. His human size was worthy of being feared hence his werewolf form was even scary.
He howled at the moon. His howl was loud and spread far and wide across Wisteria. Everyone in their respective houses sat still and hoped that there would be no bad news by the following morning.
Calhoun jumped out through his tower window. He climbed it to the top of his castle, crouching down on three legs, he stared to the farthest point and grunted a little. Before considering anything, he jumped from the top of his castle straight into the forest. His huge figure raced through the trees and he was almost unseen.
He raced through the forest into the blood pack kingdom, into the next kingdom, and the next.
He was on a rampage searching for his beloved. Calhoun pranced around, jumping from house to house, peeking into every window, sniffing every footprint he could see. All he wanted was a sign of Diana. If his subjects couldn't find her, he would find her himself.
All through the night, Calhoun was moving from roof to roof, searching for Diana in three different kingdoms. At the break of dawn, he hadn't found her. A little exhausted from his search, he returned to his kingdom, less excited.
He jumped into his castle and transformed back into his human form. Stained with mud and dirt. George was the first to see him.
"M..my king! I... I have been searching for you all night and.. what happened? You look like..." He trailed off. He could feel the murderous stare coming from the king, and he could also feel the oppressing aura that oozed out of him. George didn't need anyone to tell him to keep quiet. He wondered why Calhoun looked so deadly.
"Tell Patricia to get my bath ready," Calhoun growled. "Now."
George hurried to deliver the message to the maid. Calhoun walked away and headed directly to his room. He was surprised to find Patricia there. She was preparing the bath for him and as he entered, he dropped his robe to the floor. His shirt went off and his trousers became loose. Patricia tried to not stare at his glorious body but she was having a hard time not to. She knew that the man was worried about his runaway lover. Perhaps she could also be the new one if she played her cards rightly.
"My king, your bath is ready-"
"I can see that." Calhoun snapped. "Leave."
"Sir?"
"I said leave, Patricia. Are you hard of hearing? Or do you want to wash me so badly? Are you falling in love with me, Patricia?" Calhoun mocked. "Leave! If you do not want to end up like the other carcasses that were cleared earlier."
Patricia left but not as quickly as she always did whenever she was threatened. She walked slowly out of the room. Calhoun ignored her and removed the remaining clothing that covered his body. He went into his bath and soaked his body. He relaxed in the water.
His eyes went closed softly. He could see images of himself running through the forest and jumping from roof to roof. As the images kept flashing in his head, he slept off while in the bath.
Patricia had left the room but she wasn't satisfied with leaving him alone. Perhaps he was too grieved. He must need company.
She turned and went back to his chamber. She touched the doorknob to turn it and enter but she stopped herself in time. She wouldn't want to kill herself just because she wanted to comfort him.
"My king." She called softly, knocking. "It's me, Pat. Can I come in?"
There was no response. She knocked again but he didn't respond. She went ahead and turned the door knob and to her utter surprise, the door went open. She walked in slowly, carefully. The entire chamber was silent. She walked into the bathroom to find it empty as well. Then she walked closer to the bath. She peeked into the bath and found Calhoun at the bottom of his bath. She screamed.