My Werewolf Parents Pretended To Die To Make Me Suffer Chapter 2

It took me a long time to dig half a pouch of wolfsbane out from the bottom of the wooden chest in the workers' lodging house.

The leaves had gone black and smelled like moldy bitter almonds. I soaked them in cold water anyway, then drank the water in one gulp.

Usually, I only drank it to ease the headaches when work in the silver mine left me too exhausted to shift. Tonight, it didn't help at all.

I curled up on the little bed under the sloped attic roof. Every time I closed my eyes, the scene in the banquet hall played out all over again.

My father holding the sword.

My mother holding Kane.

And Leah, saying not one winter less.

Then someone shoved the downstairs door open.

Leah's boots came up the stairs, every step carrying the chill of the winter night. Her eyes went cold when she pushed open the attic door and saw me lying there.

"Get up."

I didn't move. I honestly didn't have the strength.

She crossed to the bed in three strides, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and dragged me off it.

"Today's the day we lost Mom, Dad, and Kane. I spent the whole day keeping watch at Red Moon Canyon, and you're up here sleeping?"

I could still smell the wine from the solstice feast on her.

I didn't call her on it.

Leah dragged me all the way down to the little chapel. Three wolf lamps stood in the middle of it. Their wicks stayed dark even though the three people they stood for weren't dead at all.

A ring of silver sand was spread in front of the lamps, and a death bell no bigger than my palm hung beside them.

I knelt down on my own.

As the silver sand bit into my knees, I smelled burning skin.

Leah tossed the bell hammer down in front of me.

"720 strikes. With every one, you say, 'I killed them.'"

I picked up the hammer but didn't strike.

"Leah, every year you say you're going to the canyon to keep watch over their graves. Why have you never let me come with you?"

She paused for a second.

"You think you deserve to?" Her answer came fast. "Your scent will foul the path the dead take through the Moon Gate."

I gave a small laugh and finally struck the first note.

The dull clang of bronze bounced around the little chapel.

"I killed them."

The second strike. The third.

By the 100th strike, the silver sand was soaked with my blood.

At the 300th strike, my right hand started shaking uncontrollably.

Before the 301st strike could land, I heard wings beating against the window.

A white-breasted wolf bird came crashing in through the window and landed on Leah's shoulder. A soft voice came from its beak, and her face changed instantly.

It was Kane's voice. "Leah, I can smell Ronan again. I can't sleep."

Leah looked at me. I saw her reach out like she meant to help me up, but in the end, all she did was tighten the silver cord around my knees.

"I'll be right back. Keep going."

The door closed.

I kept striking the bell alone. At the 500th strike, I finally threw up.

There was no food in my stomach, only bitter wolfsbane water. It splashed onto an herb pouch by the wall. The pouch, embroidered with white flowers, was a gift Kane had given Leah last year.

When Leah came back and saw the soiled pouch, the last trace of hesitation left her face.

"You hate him that much?"

She grabbed my hand and used it to slam the hammer against the bronze bell.

Once, twice. Every strike rattled my skull.

"Finish the rest," Leah said. "Skip a single one and you're not leaving this room tonight."

My right hand gradually went numb as I held the hammer, so she closed her own hand tightly over mine.

We were holding on to something together, like when we were kids. Back then, she was teaching me how to hold a wooden sword. Now she was guiding my hand, strike by strike, as I declared myself guilty.

By the 720th strike, I couldn't even keep my eyes open.

Leah caught me. She said my name, picked me up, and started to carry me out.

But a second wolf bird landed right in front of her.

Kane was crying, his voice even quieter than before. "Leah, my wrist is bleeding again."

Leah froze.

She set me back down beside the silver sand and covered me with her cloak.

"I'll be right back."

This time, she still hadn't come back by morning.