What Lies Beneath His Pelt?

CHAPTER 17: TORN

August 13, XX09 || 13:30:03

Shufurbs Outskirts, Shufurbs, Opeure

We prepared for the wrong storm.

Three days ago, the news media reported that a super typhoon was on its way to Rathe. Everyone prepared for its onslaught. We stocked up on food and water, we deployed the best water bearers and earth-shakers the country offered. Some mages even warded their cities to make sure the water wouldn’t break through their walls. When the cyclone came, it did not do much damage and we were at ease. However, three days later, a new storm was sighted. People did not pay much heed and that was our first mistake.

Our second mistake was that we did not evacuate when we were asked to. Even the barriers were not erected again due to a “lack of resources and time.” The regret soon came afterward, and the city of Shufurbs in the Opeure region was one of the most affected. It was a catch basin for water as it stood between two large and elevated cities.

“Major Vallejo, how much longer can your men hold them?” Colonel Adelram Dela Vega asked as he helped another family up the military truck that was provided by the Regno.

“I’m not entirely sure, Colonel. We have been trying to hold back the water for three hours already. The personnel shifts are useful, yes, but the energy recharge is not enough.” My dad replied as he ran a rich brown hand into his equally darker hair that was already stuck to his forehead due to the sweat and the rainwater. We were on the outskirts of town and earth-shakers had created an earth wall that could limit the amount of water spilling over towards the heart of the town. The water bearers had contained the water but strong rain still poured and there was no sign of it stopping.

We were there to tend to injured staff and help them replenish their energy, but I wanted to move, not just babysit.

I knew it wouldn’t be long before the walls would crash. I looked at the queue for evacuation, which was still long, but the number of military trucks were already down to two.

“Dad, please, let me help you.” I mused as I walked towards him. At the age of eighteen, I knew my half-wolf features were already evident in my height and build, so I knew I could help. I wore the trainees uniform-a short-sleeved turtleneck shirt that had the seal of the Magistratus on the neck, fingerless gloves that reached until the elbows, black pants, and combat boots. I knew I was also noticeable because of my fair skin and hair that already fell to my shoulders.

A sad smile graced my dad’s face as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Calum, I know you want to help and you will, in the future. For now, you need to focus on your training. I promised your mother I would keep you safe and that is what I am doing right now.” I frowned at his statement.

I have never known my mom since she died when I was born but my dad told me stories about her. Based on what I put together, she would disagree with my dad and tell him to allow me to work alongside him.

“Dad, I’m going to be in this field in a few years. Why can’t I start now?” I argued. It was his turn to frown.

He was about to reply when a loud rumble came. Before anyone could react, the walls crumbled and the water rushed in.

Our eyes widened. Before I could do anything, he grabbed me by my waist and took me to higher ground.

“I love you, son, but I have to return to them. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself.” He mused as he ruffled my hair. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.

“I promise. Please come back, dad.” I pleaded, my voice cracking.

He simply nodded and returned to the site where water quickly rose.

Screams of help were swallowed by the loud boom of thunder and the sound of water crashing. I simply watched as Fabulares assisted in the evacuation but I knew they wouldn’t be able to save all of them. I felt useless and the urge to jump in had gotten stronger. As I was about to do so, cold fingers closed in on my upper arm. When I turned, I saw my grandfather.

His face was an emotionless mask but behind his eyes, a storm raged. When he spoke, I realized that that was the first time he used my first name (as I was usually referred to as Johanna’s son, my daughter’s son, grandchild, child, or soldier).

“Calum, come, we need to head back to the castle where it is safe.” He mused. I shook my head.

“No, please, grandfather, I need to help my dad, please,” I replied, but was shocked when my grandfather’s grip tightened.

“No. You will not disobey me. Now come, or do you want me to drag you there?” He ordered, firmer this time, and his long nails dug into my skin. It was at that moment that I knew I was going to experience hell. As if to prove my point, I saw intricate red lines appear on my grandfather’s face and double ram horns sprouting from his temples. A third eye that was twice the size of a normal eye appeared on his forehead. I saw that it was red and similar to a goat’s.

“Calum, come.” It was my grandfather’s voice, yes, but it wasn’t his face I was seeing. It was Ciara’s.

“Calum,” they repeated. It sounded like there was a choir speaking with them, as the voice was a mixture of highs and lows, of feminine and masculine voices.

Heat rushed to where they held me and my lungs constricted again.

The scene shifted and I was back in the forest. I saw Ciara silhouetted against the moon and I noticed that red light emanated around her. Her scent of lemon and lavender was replaced by the scent of sulfur. When she reached for me, her nails were longer. The way the red light surrounded her made her look bigger than before and I was shocked when a forked tail swished behind her. I watched as that tail swung back and ended up pressed against my neck.

“Calum, will you still trust me if I look like this?” It was her voice that dominated the chorus and I was once again frozen...in shock? In fear? I don’t know.

She leaned closer. When she smiled, I was able to see sharp teeth arranged neatly in rows.

“NO!” I screamed as I jolted from my bed. The first thing I noticed was that I was numb.

“Aha, he awakens!” Grace’s high-pitched voice came. I tried to focus on my surroundings.

I was inside a bathroom with three panels of floor-to-ceiling windows. It showed the pine forest behind the house, a shower and toilet chamber on one side, and the rest of the floor was dominated by this pool I was submerged in.

I blinked as I made sure I wasn’t imagining things and, true enough, I was in a tub with glowing indigo water. I was still in my shirt and pants (thank Caelestis). I seemed unscathed.

“What the hell happened?” I asked as I tried to lift myself. Grace stepped back.

“You tell us. We received a distress call from Cia earlier and as we were about to find you, we were shocked to see you two at the door with the groceries and unconscious.” Lils’ voice came as she entered the room. I saw that she was holding a towel in her hand.

I tried to think of what had happened and I remembered seeing the man who resembled my father.

“Hey, what’s the time?” I asked as I looked around for a clock.

“It’s five in the afternoon. You two have been gone for an hour and a half,” Edmund’s voice came as he entered the room.

“What? And how long since you found us?”

“About thirty minutes? Why?” Edmund replied.

“And you said we were at the front door, right?”

The three of them nodded.

So the meadow, my father, was it just my imagination? Was it an after-effect of whatever was in that shadow figure’s scythe?

“Where’s Ciara?” I asked as I looked around.

“She’s in her room and probably being healed by Lan as we speak. She was the one who lost most of her energy and I would prefer that she sleeps longer because a Ciara running on low energy isn’t a lovely sight to see.” Lils replied. Grace nodded in agreement.

“Tell me about it. Didn’t think she could curse that much.” I chuckled. They raised their eyebrows at me.

“Wow. I pity your ears, big bro. Bet her screaming did a number on you.” Grace mused.

And speaking of ears…

My hand went to my head and I breathed a sigh of relief when I felt my ears resting against my hair. I remember how Ciara caressed it and heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Oh? Why are you blushing, big bro? Did something happen?" Grace's teasing voice came. I saw Lils and Edmund grinning as well.

I was about to say something when I felt dread long before Callan came in. I swallowed the nervousness that settled in my throat, the easy-going atmosphere gone. I noticed that his skin was flushed and his eyes were tired, but that scowl on his face still relayed his emotions toward me.

"All of you out. NOW!" He bellowed and I never saw people leave that room so quickly. The door slammed shut and the loud click of the knob caused my heart to race.

"You. Out of the tub!" He ordered as he raised his hands, bending his fingers like a claw. Like a puppet master's hand.

I was shocked when I floated from the tub and I found that I couldn't move at all. I could hear the rushing of my blood in my veins, yes, but it felt unnatural, like it was ice flowing through me.

Callan pulled his hands towards him. I followed suit. His right hand pointed downward. I fell to my knees. My head was kept up and everything was uncomfortable.

"You have caused nothing but trouble ever since you came and it was only yesterday." He hissed, voice low. I wanted to reply but I couldn't. I realized it was because he was controlling everything about me.

"I have been living here for a long time, Vallejo and these issues never happened." As he said that, he closed his hand into a fist. My throat constricted.

"I don't care what curse you brought, but I want you out of my city and out of my little sister's hair." And then, my body dropped. I could move my limbs but I still felt like it wasn't mine.

"No." I rasped out. His eyes hardened.

He raised a hand once again and I waited for that unnatural feeling but was dumbfounded when it was he who floated.

"How many times do I have to f*****g tell you to create a noise barrier first before you start screaming?" Ciara bellowed. I found her standing in the doorway with her hands positioned the way Callan's were earlier. I should feel relieved, yes, but the double ram horns sprouting in her head and the huge goat eye in the middle of her forehead increased my fear more.

"Let me down, Danglathas!" Callan mused. I saw that he too had horns sprouting from his head and a huge goat's eye in the middle of his forehead.

Something about them was ominous and I could feel my throat constricting again. I tried to reach for the onyx pendant but panicked when I couldn't find it anymore. So that's why I was easily affected.

Ciara-or Danglathas, whoever this was, looked at me and she dropped her hands. Callan dropped back to the ground. I noticed how they both had intricate red swirls covering their arms, neck, and faces and how they both had long sharp nails and forked tails.

"Go back to your room and rest. You need to replenish your mortal shell." Callan's voice was low and deep. I could feel dark energy seeping through him.

Mortal what?

As if on cue, Danglathas' knees buckled and Callan caught her. They now looked human but the feeling of dread was still there.

"You're Fabukage too! All of you here are Fabukage. What about Liam?" I breathed. Callan gave a humorless laugh.

"You should have known that already when you first met with Danglathas. You can read energy just like her, can you not? But it would seem that you still have a lot to learn. As for Liam, he is one of those we favor."

"Those you favor? And it's Ciara. Her name is Ciara," I argued. He grinned at me.

"Indeed, just like how our great great grandfather called himself Nahuel to hide his true identity, or how I used Callan or how our younger brother used Victor."

"Victor? He's your brother? I thought he died?"

"He didn't die. He decided to refuse his responsibilities as the second prince and got mixed up in crazy situations. That's why he has retained that form."

"What? And what of the Kage Opus?"

"They are on your side-removing Fabukage in existence and claiming power that isn't theirs. The reason why they chased after you is to protect you from us chase, but Liam is a good actor, isn't he?"

"What about the Fabukage that attacked us?"

"This is a war against two sides, Prince Calum, there will always be someone who will switch sides."

I tried to process everything when he turned to me one last time.

"You can take Edmund with you when you leave later as he is already made aware of the situation. This is an issue between my city and my family and I don't want outsiders involved. If you decide to tell King Fino what you learned, I'll know and I will make you regret it. Do you understand?" And his eyes glowed red.

I couldn't speak so I just stared at him until he left. By the time I was alone, I finally got most of the pieces together.

The current Daemomachi Regno are descendants of Hadansmuto and Princess Ciara…

Salty tears flowed steadily to my cheeks as all the pent-up emotions I kept spilled after this revelation.

A found family but it only lasted for a day. Why am I so unfortunate?