Where was she?
The day was getting darker, sky already less blue than it had been. If Sebastian had to have a word for it, he'd call it dusk. Any other day - and other night - this wasn't actually a problem. Tonight, though, was a full moon
(
Read more... )
Sabrina had always made it a point to disappear during this day, though her range was limited within the camp wards so Nolan always knew that she wasn't too far off. That didn't stop him from reacting in a similar fashion, most of the time simply annoying with how flighty she became, abandoning all her responsibilities for a little bit of personal freedom. But it was always too much for her to be around the others, their own energy coming out in different ways, most of the men wrestling and fighting to appease their aggression while the women fought it off to continue working, mothers going to great lengths to ensure their unturned children would be safe without them for the night.
Even though this was her brother and the perimeters had changed considerably, Bri was still unfazed by his worry. After all, she had been shifting just as long as he had-
"It's also Valentines Day. I was with Dean."
Reply
"Whatever. Some things are a bit more important than your little boyfriend today." There may have been an extra touch of irritation about Valentine's Day, but he didn't have time to address that he hadn't bothered so much as owling Reid - never mind that he had no idea what they even were - for fear of encouraging an impromptu drop-in they were so famous for with each other. Sebastian would deal with that tomorrow - or Sunday when he felt less like death.
"It's close, Bri. We should have been ready for this hours ago." He hadn't even properly locked down the manor yet.
Reply
The only thing they had to do was wait and Sabrina was more than confused about exactly what they had to do to get ready. This was it. She was ready.
"Trust me- today was the perfect day to see Dean. Don't you feel the energy? How can you even sit still?" It was hard to keep a satisfied grin off of her face.
Reply
"Which is why I need to set the charms." They were many - too many at this point to cast so quickly - and Sebastian was already evaluating which ones he could avoid without giving himself a panic attack during a change - that stopped happening years ago, thankfully.
"And make sure the vault is secure for the night."
Reply
"Alright- I'll help set the charms around the property," she offered, finally pausing to see just how agitated and nervous her brother actually was over all of this.
Did he get like this every month?
"What do you need to lock in the vault?"
Reply
Sebastian stopped at her last question. How had she missed that? Wasn't it exceptionally obvious at this point? "Us. Clearly. I'd have thought that was blatant."
Reply
Her throat went completely dry.
A vault.
"You're going to lock us up like- like common house pets?"
There was no way she was getting into a cage.
Reply
"Not pet, dangerous animals. You don't see lions roaming free in the countryside, do you?" This, he was certain, was a fairly airtight point. Sebastian had been having this debate with himself for years.
Reply
It would be maddening.
"Fine- not like a house pet-" She all but snarled at him, the wolf making its way to the surface. "Like a pathetic zoo animal!"
Reply
The fact that she didn't understand and hadn't figured it out was mildly annoying. They probably should have had this conversation earlier, he could admit. The optimal time definitely wasn't when they the skies were getting darker, the moon ready to rise, and the pull making muscles and bones start preparing with an increasing ache that did nothing but increase his irritability.
"This isn't the woods, Sabrina. We have space, but there are people who could show up at any time. Any. Time. And I will not be responsible for a fatal accident."
Reply
Sabrina was well aware that they weren't in the woods, the dirty air filling her lungs and choking her still whenever they ventured into the city, the crowded streets making her uncomfortable. It slapped her in the face nearly every day, still craving the clear skies and the calmed quiet of the camp. It was a lot to get used to but she was trying.
This was too much to ask of her.
"I'm not going in there. I'm going outside."
Reply
This might - he was fairly certain of it - be the only thing he'd ever agree with her pack on.
"What happens when you stray too far and a Muggle sees you and shoots you for being a wolf too close to someone? Or a wizard sees you and has a really unfortunately bias against werewolves, because they'd know the difference." Sebastian hadn't been this cautious from the beginning. Self-loathing had been coming on strongly from the start, but the caution came later, following a late night disappearing act when some locals were more than a little discriminatory and began bordering on dangerous.
"It's not just about us not hurting them. It goes both ways."
Reply
"Don't you think I know that? Why do you think I stayed in the camp, Sabastian?" she asked him, throwing her arms out now in frustration.
She didn't need this lecture, not moments before the change. It messed with her head to hear Nolan's words from her brother's mouth.
"They hate us! They all hate us. We don't belong here."
Reply
"But now is not the time for this conversation! We need to go, right now." By his estimate, they had less than 20 minutes before the first excruciating pains of the transformation started.
Reply
"You're delusional. Too many years alone," she told him, standing her ground right there in front of him in the foyer.
He wasn't going to get her down to that cage, not if she could help it.
The minutes were ticking down, Bri's emotions peaking higher as the passed. But she had it perfectly timed, knew her body and the change so well by now that she wasn't worried- not nearly as much as her brother was.
Reply
"We have to go." Sebastian's voice dipped lower, more serious if that were possible, as he took measured steps toward her. He didn't want to force her, but he also didn't want anything happening to her. "Right now."
Reply
Leave a comment