CASSEY
I was boiling with anger after leaving that mannerless girl. I felt like removing all her teeth from her mouth.
"What did you tell her?" Nicholas asked.
"Who?"
"The nurse."
"Oh…" I was helping Nicholas talk to a girl—that's why we went to a clinic. He wanted a medically skilled woman, and we were lucky enough to find one—Ariana, a nurse.
"She agreed to have dinner with you… or should I say, a date?" I laughed. "What date? We just met. I barely even know her. I just want to be friends first."
"Oookay, I understand. But through dating, you can get to know her more. Understand?" He sighed heavily, placing his hand over his face as I began to walk off.
"Where are you going? The palace is this way."
"You have a date tonight—you need something nice to wear," I said. "Tonight? Seriously? …Oh, whatever."
Later that night…
Nicholas and I hadn't returned to the palace yet. We were standing outside the restaurant, waiting for Ariana. A minute later, she arrived—smiling brightly. Nicholas, on the other hand, looked as serious and stiff as ever.
I leaned toward his ear and whispered, "A little bit of happiness should reflect on your face."
"Oh…" He forced a smile, which looked obviously weird and fake. "Is that good enough?" he asked in a low voice. "No. Just keep your face normal—I think that's better."
"Okay." Nicholas took Ariana inside. I sighed as I watched them through the restaurant window. "I need a drink," I muttered to myself.
At the bar…
They didn't just sell drinks here—men also came to sleep with harlots and enjoy worldly pleasures. But none of that impressed me. It all felt like a waste of time and energy. I went to the stream behind the bar with my liquor, just to clear my mind. Suddenly, I felt someone trying to touch me from behind. I quickly turned and slapped the hand away. It was a woman—one of the harlots. Her face was covered.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"Hello, handsome," she purred, trying to touch me again. I moved backward. I asked again, "what do you want?"
"You want to lock me in a room?" she said seductively, rubbing my shoulder. I scoffed. "Get off me. I can't pay for what has multiple users. Just leave me in peace." She clenched her fist and tried to punch me, but I dodged. She put up a fight, and in the struggle, I managed to remove the veil from her face. But before I could see her clearly, she punched me square in the nose and ran off.
"Ow!" I groaned in pain, holding my nose. "That hurts." I looked up at the sky. "The moon's almost out."
Back at the restaurant…
Nicholas was already outside, waiting for me. "Where have you been, blockhead?" he said angrily. "I just went to get a dri—" He cut in. "And you fought."
"No! Wait—how do you know that?"
"Your nose is bleeding. And what's that in your hand?" he asked. I looked at my hand. There was a bracelet—I think it belonged to the girl. "A girl beat you up," he said.
"No way. Let's go home—it's almost moon out."
At the palace…
I went straight to meet King Harrington. He was in his favorite place—the library. "You sent for me?" I asked nonchalantly. He cleared his throat. "At this hour, Cassey?"
I stayed silent.
"Aren't I old enough to call you Cassey?"
"I didn't say you weren't," I said, looking away. "Where were you all day?"
"I went out…"
"WHERE?!" he shouted. I swallowed hard. "…Out with Nicholas."
"How many times must I tell you, Cassey? You need to be in court. I want you by my side—you're the next king of this kingdom. Just imagine—a future ruler unknown to his own subordinates. All you do is drink and sit by your mother's—" I interrupted him.
"And whose fault is that? You made me this way. It's your fault I'm motherless. You threatened my life—and now you expect me to respect you? To believe in anything you say?"
"Cassey, I didn't kill your mother—"
"Yes! The big bad wolf did, right? That's what you always say!"
"It's a curse laid on our family. Every first son inherits it once they become an adult."
"Oh, now it's a curse. I'll never believe that!"
"Have you been feeling strange lately? Are you eighteen?" he asked, standing. "No. No strange feelings. And yes—I'm over eighteen."
"Really? No changes at all?" he said, surprised. I shook my head. "Maybe it only happens when you're married," he mumbled, thinking aloud.
"Which will never happen," I muttered, not realizing he heard me. "No, Cassey—it must happen. So I can be free from this pain."
"And that pain will become mine."
"No, Cassey. Come with me," he said gently. "How do I know you're not going to punish me—or kill me instead?" He ignored the question.
On our way, I asked again, "Where are we going? It's a full moon." Still, he gave no reply until we got to the dungeon. Then, he entered a large cage, and the general locked it up with several chains and padlocks.
"I'm a werewolf, Cassey. And this curse will be inherited. This must stay between you and me," he said. I just stood there, staring at him as he began to transform—slowly and painfully—into a massive black wolf.
As I watched his body convulse and reshape, I couldn't help but recall that fateful night… the one that changed everything. He became wild and ferocious again—exactly like the creature I'd seen tear my mother apart.
The Next Day…
I was in my room, working on a painting. I hadn't stepped out all day. The image I painted was the exact wolf I saw the night before—large, dark, fierce. While painting, I kept trying to convince myself that what Harrington said was true. But after the pain and torture he caused me… it was hard to accept anything from him.
Nicholas walked in. "I haven't seen you all day. What are you up to?" he asked, walking over to look at my painting. "Did you see the nurse today?"
"You haven't answered my question yet, Cassey. And… why don't you attend the imperial court meetings?" he asked curiously.
"Now you're starting to sound like Harrington."
"Harrington? Why don't you just call him 'Dad'? He is your father."
"I'm getting tired of your questions."
"No, Cassey. I need to advise you. You seriously need some guidance."
"On what exactly?"
"On many things, Cassey. You don't involve yourself in anything important."
"That's because I don't like any of it. Did Harrington send you here?!" I was getting irritated. "I'm saying this for the future of this kingdom. You're the next king, and yet you don't even have someone to marry. I don't even think you can handle the imperial court's problems, or—"
"That's enough, Nicholas! It's high time you kindly leave," I said angrily, pointing toward the door. "You mean it?" he asked. "Exactly. Get out!"
"Okay, fine. I'll go." He left, clearly angry. I snapped the paintbrush in my hand, threw it out the window, and collapsed onto my bed, fuming.