Chapter 8 The Wolf In Me

"It's dark in here!" Lacey cried out.

It was a dark and dreary place where the only sound that could be heard is the drip, drip, drip of water from the stalactites. The air inside the cave is thick with humidity, and it's difficult for average humans to breathe. The darkness is so thick that it's even impossible to see more than a few feet in front of Lacey.

"Don't let go of my hand," said James.

Although vampires can't see in the dark, werewolves could. The darkness of the cave wasn't a problem for James. Since he was turned, he gained abilities to see in the dark. He noticed this on his way back from the bar some time ago when he was depressed with the new developments and changes in his body.

He was drunk and staggering home. No cab wanted to pick him up. James staggered to the dark alley but to his greatest surprise, he could see clearly without torchlight.

James firmly held Lacey without letting her go. "Zed!" Lacey called out. "Don't tell me you just called us into this dark cave for us to behold the darkness."

Vampires can't see in the dark but they can echolocate by producing high-pitched squeaking noises and interpreting the echoes which will allow them to navigate in the dark.

"Forgive me, my lady," Zed apologized. With a snap of his fingers, he lit the scene.

The flaming torches affixed to the rocky walls of the cave lit the scene making it possible for Lacey to see her surroundings. She emits a sigh of relief and quickly threw her arms around James hugging him tightly. "Thanks for holding my hands," she whispered.

'Yeah, that's more like it. Don't let her go, hug her tightly dude!' James could hear the wolf in him yell. James slowly and gently wrapped his arms around Lacey. He pats her and whispers in a soft voice, "You are welcome."

'Come on dude, kiss her... kiss her come on...'

'Make her your mate, do it now... do it now.'

"Shut your mouth," James whispered under his breath.

"What did you say?" Lacey pulled away from the hug and cast a surprised gaze at him. She's certain she heard James say something.

"Uhmm... ehmmm..." James scratched his head. He's quite sure Lacey heard him. But he was lost in his words and don't know how to explain to her he was talking to the wolf in him.

'You are such an asshole dude. Perhaps I should rip through you I make her mine.'

"Shut the hell up!" James yelled. His eyes glowed. He slid his tongue across his teeth and tightened his hand into a fist on his thigh.

"James... are you alright?" Lacey stared with a concerned look.

'Come on dude, tell her you're not but can be with just a kiss from her. Both of you are fated...'

"I said, shut the hell up!" James roared as his fangs popped out. His fingers grew into claws. With evil in his eyes, he narrowed his gaze down, panting heavily as someone who just finished a relay race.

"Get away from him now!" Zed yelled.

Without saying a word, Lacey tilted back on her heels taking caution of Zed to heart. "What's wrong with him?" she glanced at Zed.

"He's in transition," Zed said making his way to James.

With his bronze staff, he knocked James off his feet and pinned him to the ground with his leg on James' shoulder blade.

"What transition are you talking about?" Lacey stared with a wide-eyed gaze.

Only vampires could be in transition. Vampire transition is the process of a newly turned human walking the supernatural process of turning into a vampire and this process could last for days. This is not so in werewolves. Werewolves transform, they don't engage in transition. When bitten by a werewolf, a human could start making transformations within hours. This left Lacey wondering what type of transition James could be in.

Zed switched his gaze on Lacey, without answering her question; he points her attention to a wooden table, "get me the dark wooden flask you see there."

Lacey's curiosity wasn't satisfied but she needed to do what the wizard has asked of her. She hurried to the table and picked up the dark wooden flask and rushed back to the wizard and handed the flask to him.

James was struggling to free himself from the grip of Zed. He gnawed and growled at Zed but there was no way he could easily overpower the first wizard of order. The wolf in him is trying hard to get to Lacey since James isn't giving the raging wolf in him what he wants.

He can't fight it anymore. Sooner or later, the wolf in him could rip through him to get to Lacey and this could be disastrous to him and Lacey. No one has ever taught him how to master the wolf in him and keep him under control rather than keeping him unleashed like the ruthless werewolves in Northumbria are in habit of doing.

Zed took the dark wooden flask off Lacey and quickly removed its stopper. He threw his bronze staff in the air suspending it in the air. Hastily he bends placing his knees on the shoulder blade of James.

"Let go of me," James growled and gnawed at the bottom of his lip. He has lost it. He's no longer in control. The wolf in him wants to rip the wizard to shred if that it's what it will take for him to get to his supposed mate.

"I know this isn't you," Zed said. He removed the stopper of the wooden flask and grabbed James by the jaw forcing him to open his mouth.

Lacey only stood and watch as the wizard emptied the content of the wooden flask into James' mouth.

To make the liquid content go down, Zed pitched James' nose for a while forcing him to swallow it.

For a moment James stopped struggling. He drifts in and out of consciousness and finally shuts his eyes. His fangs changed back to his teeth and his claws changed back to his fingers.

Lacey cast her gaze on James and then glanced at Zed. "Tell me he will be fine," she muttered under her breath.

Zed could see the concerned look on Lacey's face. He doesn't have a straight answer to give her. He emits a soft deep breath expressing sadness and finally squeezes out a reply. "Let's hope this will end."