Death's Werewolf Nymph

DEATH

I bided my time until Vincent drifted off to sleep. His days were numbered, and I was aware he was expecting me. He had only a little more time left in this world. Could it be that his prolonged existence was due to the young woman who needed him? The young woman who was terrified of me and seemed so weary of life, despite her youth barely having begun.

Even though death was inevitable, others could influence its timing. If a soul was required, it could be delayed. Perhaps she had been delaying him for a while. Regardless of the need, his time was nearing its end.

I’d witnessed countless people weep at the deathbeds of their loved ones. I’d escorted billions of souls to the other side. For some reason, I was reluctant to take him to the afterlife. I cared for every soul I escorted, regardless of whether their soul was light or dark. As their time dwindled, they were all the same to me. They all had my respect and care.

Vincent was a good man. He hadn’t been in his younger days, but he’d done everything in his power to redeem himself in my eyes. He’d committed terrible acts in his youth. Every day since then, he’d been atoning for all the wrong he’d done.

I didn’t know everything about people. But when they were on the brink of death, I had the ability to see into their lives. I used this insight to grant them their final wish.

I knew the woman weeping by his bed was oblivious to his past crimes, and she would remain so. In her eyes, he was a saint. She would never discover the monster he’d once been.

She didn’t need to know his past because Vincent was one of the few who had cleansed himself of his sins. He’d acknowledged the harm he’d caused and made amends.

That woman…she seemed…or felt… I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but she radiated a different aura than most…than anyone. I felt it strongly when I was in the room with her. She must have been some sort of hybrid.

But not just any hybrid, she must have had some dark blood in her.

What was she? I arrived shortly after she did, but I decided to wait… I wasn’t sure why. Or what made me stay. Could it be that she was nearing her own death? I would need to check her time later. I couldn’t see her life if she wasn’t close to death, but I could see her time.

Their conversation was…intriguing. A troubled young woman. A wolf without a mate. But she was mortal. To feel like it was the end of the world because she had no mate. It could always be worse… She could be eternally alone. But time would pass. She would heal. And her body would decompose in the dark soil. Not everyone was fortunate enough to simply vanish and die.

She seemed to fall asleep in her chair next to Vincent. People couldn’t see me, but I preferred to do my work without the distraction of conversation. I still respected the living and wanted to give them their privacy.

I stepped out of the dark corner where I’d been standing, but I halted when the young woman stirred in her seat and sat up. Then she did something I’d never seen anyone do here. She looked at me…

She looked directly into my eyes. She was somehow able to see me. I felt a chill run through me. She shouldn’t have been able to.

What do you say in such a situation? When for the first time in a thousand years, a person was seeing you?

She looked terrified, but after a moment, she spoke when I didn’t react. “Who…who are you?” she stammered.

Interesting, while she was speaking to Vincent, I hadn’t noticed it. But her voice… It had a unique quality to it; it was sweet, like the sound of the ocean. Pleasing to the ear.

She asked me who I was. She didn’t know…that meant there was no way she could have summoned me. But even then, only a few witches have tried it, and to them, I was only a voice. And there was no way this woman was a witch.

She didn’t look like one. Witches were beautiful creatures, but there was always something deadly in their faces.

I couldn’t deny that she was beautiful. I’d seen countless faces, I knew when someone was attractive.

But there was something about her face that was almost mesmerizing, beyond the usual standards of beauty. Something so inviting and kind. I might not have seen her life, but I’d seen Vincent’s, and she played a significant role in it. I knew she was a nymph and possessed nymph beauty. But I hadn’t paid her much attention when looking into Vincent’s life. Then, she was just a blur. Only now that I saw her could I place her in the visions.

She was still waiting for my answer. I scanned the room to see if any other entities had found their way in here. That would explain why I was somehow visible to her. But I didn’t see any, and it wasn’t something I could easily miss.

“Turns out…your worst fear,” I declared, but stayed where I was. I figured it would frighten her if I made any sudden movements. And I was almost certain she had no idea who I was. She seemed to relax slightly, but she was still wary of me.

“How long have you been standing there?” she asked, looking at the corner I’d emerged from—just a dark corner, nothing special.

“Longer than you’d like. I don’t think you wanted me to hear how unkindly you spoke of me,” I said, and that completely baffled her. “I’m actually quite the opposite. If you just get to know me, I guarantee, I’m a gem.” I didn’t get many opportunities to toy with people. I had to take advantage of it while it lasted. There was only so much joy in Death’s life.

“I didn’t talk about you. I don’t even know you,” she said, her eyebrows furrowed, cautious of my every move.

I placed my hand over my heart. “Am I that forgettable? You really know how to wound a man’s ego, love.” I felt the urge to smirk at her as her forehead wrinkled even more. If only she knew the Death she so despised had just smirked at her.

“What brings you here?” she asked again, her voice wavering despite her best efforts to sound confident.

I shrugged, squinting my eyes as if deep in thought. “Just another Monday. I’m working like everyone else at this hour,” I replied nonchalantly.

She remained fearful. “Working? Doing what?” she asked, crossing her arms defensively. She was trying so hard to appear brave, but I could sense her fear.

I found it amusing to tease her a bit, but it was starting to get tiresome. I rolled my eyes dramatically, showing my annoyance. “More questions. You’re really keen to know me, aren’t you? Maybe we should continue this over a cup of tea?” I suggested, raising an eyebrow. She looked even more bewildered and took a few steps back. “Don’t be scared. I don’t bite. I’m just a bit shy around girls,” I said, forcing a smile.

I decided to push her a bit more, knowing I might not get another chance. I took a slow step toward her and she immediately retreated further. I smirked, enjoying her fear as I moved closer.

“Jasper!” she cried out, calling for Vincent’s caretaker.

This was a refreshing change for me, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Already trying to escape from me?” I asked, taking another step closer. She was cornered, a chair blocking her path. I leaned in close, close enough to catch a whiff of her perfume. “Guess what, sweetheart. No one escapes me,” I whispered. As the door opened, she turned toward Jasper and I disappeared back to where I’d come from.

MEREDITH

“What’s wrong?” Jasper asked, rushing to Vincent who was deep in sleep, undisturbed by my scream. “Did something happen to him?” He checked Vincent’s pulse, then turned to me.

“Who was that?” I asked, but when I turned around, there was no one there. I scanned the room, as if he could be hiding somewhere. A man with broad shoulders, much taller than me. “Someone was here!” I said, panic creeping into my voice. Jasper looked at me, concern etching his face.

“Who was here?” he asked, his brow furrowing.

“I…I don’t know. He was just here. He didn’t tell me his name…” I tried to explain, but I had no idea who he was, where he’d come from, or where he’d gone.

Jasper moved closer to me. “Was he from the pack?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No. I’ve never seen him before. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone like him,” I said, recalling his dark hair and eyes.

Jasper touched my forehead, checking for a fever. “There’s no way someone could have been here,” he said, taking my hand and guiding me to sit down. “I know how much Vincent means to you, but you need to be rational. I understand this is a lot to handle, with him being sick and all. But he’s lived a long life, he can’t be here forever.” He knelt down, taking my hands in his. “You need to take care of yourself. Take a day or two off.”

Was I imagining things? I’d been falling apart over the past month as Vincent’s health deteriorated. Was it finally driving me mad? Maybe then people wouldn’t call me a mess, a disgrace. They’d just feel sorry for me.

“Vincent will be okay. Go clear your head. Okay?” Jasper said. I nodded and left Vincent’s house.

If this were any other day before Magdalena turned eighteen, I’d be hanging out with Adrian. We did everything together. A week ago, he’d asked me to help his parents with renovations, but now it was Magdalena. How could I be friends with him now? We’d made a pact that if we hadn’t found mates by twenty-five, we’d marry each other. I just needed three more years, but Magdalena beat me to it.

We’d never had romantic feelings for each other, but we thought we could fool the pack into thinking we were together. He dreaded a marriage of convenience as much as I did.

I had to go home at some point, and now seemed as good a time as any, with Magdalena out and my parents busy with pack duties.

But I only came home to be alone. Once they returned, I’d leave again, heading to the furthest lake in the pack. I really didn’t want to see them.

A few hours passed and I heard someone enter the house. It was still light out and too early to go to the forest, so I stayed in my room, door locked from the inside.

Of course, the person who entered the house tried to open my door, but they didn’t say anything and just walked away. That was for the best. It’s better to say nothing than to be misunderstood. They didn’t care about my thoughts, so why bother?

Once the moon rose and darkness fell, I dressed in my white, long, button-up dress. It had short sleeves and a V-neck. It was simple, but one of my nicer dresses.

I tiptoed downstairs, trying not to draw attention. I peeked around the corner to see my family. They were all sitting by the fireplace, enjoying themselves. They looked happy, and it hurt that I couldn’t share in their joy. Everything was fine until I turned nineteen, when they realized I’d never find a mate. I still had hope then…they’d lost theirs earlier.

I knew my mother and Magdalena would be heading to the forest soon, so I needed to leave now if I wanted to go unnoticed.

I walked in the opposite direction of our usual path. At the edge of the forest, I took off my dress and shifted into my light brown wolf form, Mae. I held the dress in my mouth and ran.

I ran as fast as I could, draining all my energy. I ran to clear my head, to feel like I’d accomplished something. Even if it was just a run, it felt important, life-changing.

Even the smallest things can change the world, and I felt like my run had changed something, even if it was just in my mind. I didn’t expect much from life, because when I expected too much, I broke down. I hated feeling broken…

My feet carried me to the highest point of our territory. The edge of a cliff with a view of treetops below.

The strange man hadn’t left my thoughts all day. I couldn’t be that crazy. I knew what I’d seen. He was there. And with each thought, I became more certain that he was real, not a hallucination. But why?