A Whole New Me
***
Azalea woke up panting and sweating her brains out. She noticed that all of the marks on her body were gone, all except one. The mark that that mutt gave her the night before was a faint pink line now, right above her collarbone. She could see Llorel leaning on her closed door. She wasn’t going to complain because technically this is his room, but goodness freakin’ gracious he didn’t have the decency to knock first? The hairs on her neck were on full alert at this point; someone was in the room with them. Azalea could feel their presence and she could smell their anger and their determination. Truthfully it smelled like a dirty gym sock locked in a trash can filled with vinegar and saw dust. Her skin literally felt like it was trying to crawl off of her bones and she felt a deep growl come from within. Did I really just growl???
The other man from inside the room had stepped out of the shadows.
“Will what are you doing here?” Llorel asked the hooded figure.
“Now Llorel we both knew this time was coming, I think I’ve waited long enough,” the hooded figure said as he stepped farther inside the room and out of the shadows. “Azalea honey it’s time to go,” the hooded man said as he extended his hand toward her.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she said folding her arms against her chest not entirely sure what was going on here. “Azalea I am your father and you will do what I say!” he tried to command. Azalea laughed so hard her heart felt like it was pounding out of her stomach, her throat felt like it was going to burst, and tears peaked through the corners of her eyes.
“My father? That was a good one; really, nice try but try again. I don’t care if you were Jesus Christ himself I would not wanna go anywhere with you,” she growled and the hooded man took a step back.
“What the fuck are you?” he asked a bit shaken. Azalea laughed again.
“Are you scared leech?”
“Leech?” he questioned.
“I know a vampire when I smell one,” she said wrinkling her nose in disgust.
“I’d hope you know your own kind,” he said and now it was his turn to laugh. “I hope you don’t think you’re fooling anyone, because I know a vampire when I create one,” he said removing the hood from his head.
“Wow, and all of these years I thought that thing was a mask, and to think you didn’t even dress up for Halloween, you came as yourself. Now that’s taking the joke to a whole new level.”
“It scared you then and it scares you now, wasn’t that what Halloween was all about?” he laughed.
“Oh did you think you actually scared me? No, no leech, there’s a difference between being scared of losing your life, and being scared of the person taking it. Trust me I’ve never been scared of anyone my entire life, if I was to be scared of anyone it’d be myself.” That statement was proving to be truer now than ever. Azalea didn’t know what was going on with her but she was pretty damn sure it was not a good thing for the leech.
“And I’m not scared of anyone, except your mother of course,” the hooded leech spoke up.
“Well I for one think you have your fear misplaced,” she growled.
“Will we had a deal,” Llorel spoke up.
“Yes Llorel I remember, but that was 7 years ago,” the hooded leech said.
“I thought you said you wanted help?” Llorel asked.
“Look Llorel! I’d stop trying to protect the little bitch if I were you. My queen already has your name engraved into a damn headstone, what more do you want? Where is protecting this bitch really going to get you in the end? Unless you wanna die helping the very same bitch who doesn’t appreciate all you’ve done for her thus far, then I suggest you walk away. She’s not worth your life Llorel.” Llorel stared at the leech seeming to actual contemplate this, he looked over at Azalea before walking out the door, never to return. I did not see that one coming.
Azalea hopped out of the bed angrier than she’s ever felt in her entire life. Her body twitched uncontrollably and she cried out in pain as her bones started to break one by one. Her body was in terrible pain. More and more bones broke and shaped and grew and morphed, until she was on all fours and covered in black fur that gave off the impression that it was blue when hit by the light.
Azalea leaped for the hooded figure and bit his arm just as he was trying to grab her. She had her jaw fastened nice and tight around his neck, she could feel as well as she could smell the leeches fear, which only prompted her to wanna do even more damage. She could soon feel the presence of another but before she could fully turn around something was fastened around her neck making her back petal and howl in pain, it burned so very bad.
Azalea watched helplessly as the intruder helped the hooded leech to his feet and helped him to the window, but the hooded leech didn’t jump. He stood there in fear and his partner was soon doing the same thing and then that’s when she felt the presence of yet another werewolf, but this time it was Buddy. He charged at both of the men but the hooded leech got away while Buddy was busy tearing apart the intruder. Azalea tried to move in order to help but she cried out in pain as the thing around her neck began to burn with every move she made. Buddy finished tearing the intruder into shreds and then moved toward her. He howled in clear frustration and then she felt the presence of another but this time it was Ce-Ce. She came in from the window and walked over to where Azalea sat crouched along the wall of her bedroom. Ce-Ce told Buddy to get out rather rudely but he obeyed and she helped take the thing from around Azalea’s neck.
Azalea immediately shifted back to her God given form, it was way less painful. She sat on the floor naked as Ce-Ce moved to throw what looked like a metal collar away. She then walked toward Azalea’s closet and threw her a sundress to slip on. Azalea threw it on and painfully tried to get up. Ce-Ce came over and helped her to her feet and Azalea immediately collapsed rather painfully onto the bed.
“What the hell happened?” Ce-Ce asked and so Azalea had told her everything then had to repeat it all over again with the help of Ce-Ce when Bre had entered the room.