Prologue & Chapter One

This story is for adults and contains sexually explicit content, adult themes, explicit language and violence.
Reader discretion is advised.

Written by Jill R Robertson

Natalia knew that she shouldn’t have worn it. She knew the concoction was too dangerous, too potent. The Matron always cautioned her against this kind of magic; telling her that it should be used in rare circumstances only. After all, it was dark magic; an old form of alchemy that was once used by the shadow witches of the mountains-  those known for having no consideration for morality or ethics.

Natalia pursed her lips and considered that maybe she should have been born of the shadows. She had always been ambitious, a trait often snubbed by others in this coven, her mother’s coven, who valued community, collectivity and cooperation above all else. Natalia believed that when you wanted something, nothing should get in your way. So what if a few people got hurt? The world was a painful place. 

And, now, she eyed herself in the mirror, readying herself to push the first domino setting in motion her plan. And as her eyes snagged on the marks now marring the skin on her shoulder, the ones that, even after a month, were still raw and un-healing, she picked up the small tincture of liquid and uncorked the stopper and she couldn’t conceal the wicked curve playing at her lips.

~

It was a month ago, under the glow of the full moon, after he events that had occurred only hours before, that she made her decision. She would take revenge and relish it greedily. Most of the time she was able to temper her greed by playing by the rules. She hated it, the charade, but she knew that’s how the coven functioned- everyone obeying the laws, agreeing on what was morally correct and helping each other to benefit the greater good. It’s what the Matron wanted: “What is good for all is good for one”, the motto she grew up reciting. 

So, for the most part she was polite and kind and smiled when she was supposed to. And, she fucked the same way. Considerate, making sure that whatever other male or female she was with was seduced, orgasmed and cleaned up before she sent them on their way. That was until a month ago, and what happened under that full moon. Now, everything was ruined. 

She had spent endless hours naked on her satin sheets since that night trying to find satisfaction. Night after night of endless sex. Night after night of lover after lover chasing oblivion only to reach it with catastrophic disappointment. The once seismic eruption of her orgasm was now no more than a small tug internally leaving her hungrier than ever. She would lay there still writhing with frustrated sweat, staring up at moon through her window-thatched ceiling cursing the being who had affected her this way. She would strain her mind to think of anyone- anything else. No matter how many lovers she had taken or times she fucked herself, there was only one face her traitorous mind brought her back to. And every night that release was stolen, her resolve intensified.

Intensified even more in the humiliation of finding herself two fingers deep in her cunt, the heel of her palm grinding into her clit, his face haunting her mind. His golden skin and sharp teeth. An endless depth of darkness in his eyes. Hunger. 

Intensified further more when she found her release only through the memory of his gaze, her resolve setting deeper and deeper with every wave of her climax. 

He had taken her pleasure from her. Her one comfort on especially dark nights. Her one distraction from the overwhelming burden of one day ruling the coven. And when she closed her eyes, the echo of his touch across her skin was an agonizing reminder of her loss and humiliation. Natalia knew the only way forward. She knew what she had to do. Now, it was his turn to suffer.

I.

Then.

She had never seen someone like him before. She has been sent, with a few other members of her coven, to scavenge for food and other needed goods to the edges of their territory. Debris littered the expanse before, as they dismounted from their brooms. She found herself observing an abandoned, dilapidated carnival ground. The witches had been more and more desperate in the past months raiding locations her previous self would have been aghast to even flown past. Natalia grew up with wealth and luxury, taking both for granted until they were gone. Now, food was meager and potions were running low. The witches had resorted to relying on pathetic non-magics to draft love potions for or to read their fortunes for a few coins. It was humiliating- she was meant to be conjuring demons and healing political figureheads, not scraping the grounds of dilapidated carnival ground hoping people left behind food, money or anything else they could trade. 

The grounds reminded her of an empty, hollowed out carcass- something that had once brimmed with life, music, laughter and now was only a skeletal reminder of how fleeting those moments of joy were. 

She had separated from the group to scour through an overturned information booth when she saw him. He was standing there with his back to her, unclothed and staring up at the moon. It felt to her as though she had walked into someone’s living quarters unannounced, like the moment she was witnessing was private - sacred. He was coated in the light of the full moon, glowing and seeming to vibrate. Natalia, so caught in the moment, hadn’t realized she was moving closer until she half-tripped, half-fell over a “Carousel” sign that had fallen over - a loud bang clamoring through a silent night. She winced at the commotion, cursing herself for her clumsiness. The man whipped his head around to discover the origin of the noise and she gasped as she finally understood what stood before her.

A werewolf. A species that with one bite was deadly to witches. They were said to be very rare and mostly traveled in packs, hiding deep in the forests or high up in the mountains. And yet, here one stood not a hundred yards in front of her- eyes glowing a deep amber, the indication of what he was. Long, sharp claws growing from the tips of his fingers. He had his eyes glued on her, his teeth were barred in a warning snarl. His legs were beginning to elongate and snap into new positions and his back was beginning to arch and curve. She could hear the bones breaking and resetting. Yet, the man showed no signs of pain, just kept an intent, focused gaze on her as she watched. He was shifting, her mind thought suddenly. She had stumped upon a werewolf alone at night in the middle of shifting. 

Her curiosity had her glued in place. Run! A murky, distant thought seemed to be screaming at her. Her legs seemed to be too heavy, frozen to the spot. 

His face had now fully changed into a muzzle and at the mouth: long, sharp deadly fangs. 

RUN! 

And then she was moving. Whispering hastening charms on herself knowing that, if the wolf wanted, he could catch up easily. Natalia realized, as she was running, how exhausted she was. It had been a long day of scavenging without food or rest. Witches needed rest and potions to recover their magics, something she was desperately short on. Her heart was slamming in her chest and she hated how vulnerable she felt. Being a witch used to feel powerful. Witches used to be feared and revered. But in the last decade the earth had turned on them. The magic seemed to be dwindling and the witches had lost their importance to the non-magics. Now, she cursed the heavens as she ran to the closest building, the Fun House, hoping to hide for long enough that the wolf would leave. Then, she could make her way back to their meeting point and get her broom.

It was inconvenient to bring your broom with you while you were scavenging since you often needed both hands to bring back what you found. They never scavenged dangerous places so there was never a need for a quick exit. She scanned the grounds for any signs of the other witches she arrived with, yet, she could see no one. The night seemed to be completely silent and eerily still. She took a moment to consider her options. She wouldn’t chance crying out for help as it may alert the wolf to her position. Plus, she knew she couldn’t outrun him. She decided hiding was her best option. She whispered a cloaking charm and pushed past the entry doors to the Fun House. 

To the right was the now un-‘rotating tunnel’ and to the left, a winding staircase she supposed must lead to the top of the attraction. This would be the perfect place to hide out and scout where the wolf had gone.  As she made her way, as quietly and quickly as possible up the stairs, she could see how bright the moon was in the night sky- the full moon, of course. 

She tucked her knees into her chest and decided to wait out the danger. The moments went by and there was no sounds indicating a presence of anyone- not a wolf or a witch or, come to think of it- no crickets or birds, nothing. Natalia stepped out onto the top platform, sure that the coast was clear. She scanned the carnival grounds and as her eyes moved to the front of the Fun House entrance, she made eye contact with two glowing amber eyes.