The Amulet (20 page)

"What's going to happen to me, Xander? I didn't ask for all of this. I was just doing my job. I never should have followed 'Lyss out here."

"You've got a very long road ahead of you, Jessie. The gene that causes the werewolf transformation has already spread through you like a wildfire. Luckily for you, the worst of it seems to be behind you."

Jessie looked at him hard. Her leg still throbbed, but it was a dull pain now instead of the sharp, shooting pain she had felt before. The worst of it may be behind her, but she in no way considered herself lucky.

"I apologize," he told her. "You're absolutely right. Getting bitten by her was not lucky at all. I should know, but it could be worse. The process took much longer when I was changed."

Was it the way she looked at him that gave her away? How did he seem to know what she was thinking? He thumped himself in the head with the heel of his hand and she raised an eyebrow at him curiously.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I hadn't realized I was listening and I responded without thinking about it. To me, it sounds as if you had spoken, but I often forget to see if your lips move before I answer."

"You can read my mind?"

"Not purposely, but yes, I can. It won't be long before you are able to read our thoughts as well." He turned his head towards the door as if he'd heard something. Her ears picked up nothing, but she did smell the scent of lilac and something earthy, like an autumn day after a rainstorm.

Alyssa was first through the door, followed closely by Nevar. She had decided to shower before coming upstairs. Her tousled hair and the scent of Nevar on her skin had been sweet reminders of her night with Nevar, but she did not want to wave a flag in their faces.

When she saw Jessie sitting up and lucid, she rushed to her side and threw her arms around her. "Oh, Jessie! I've been so worried about you!" She held her for a moment before realizing that Jessie had not returned her embrace.

"You can let go of me now, Alyssa."

Alyssa slowly released her friend. Whenever Jessie used her full name, she knew a lecture was behind it. "What's the matter, Jessie?"

"'What's the matter?' Are you serious? I chase you all the way out here to bring you the script for this movie that will launch your career to the next level and you drag me into this fantasy world! I didn't sign up for this!"

"But, Jessie..."

"Don't 'but Jessie' me!" She interrupted. "My leg is probably ruined thanks to your little stunt! If this is your new method acting, you can leave me out of it!"

Xander interjected on Alyssa's behalf. "Your leg is fine. You won't even have a scar."

Alyssa hadn't even realized she had been crying until the teardrop fell to her collarbone. She shot Xander a grateful look and he answered with a nod. She felt Nevar place a hand on her shoulder in silent support.

Jessie stared blankly at Xander, obviously annoyed with his interference. She tore the blanket off her lap and examined her leg. Her pants were ruined. The blood stains would never come out of the khakis and Katarina's jaws had shredded the material, but underneath, the skin was pink but un-torn.

"How did you...?"

"I'm sorry, Jess. I know how hard this is for you," Alyssa told her. "I didn't ask for this, either, but here we are."

"There was silence for a moment. The air was growing thick and uncomfortable. Jessie looked like she was about to cry.

"I'm sorry, 'Lyss. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I was hoping this wasn't real."

"I know, Jess."

"We need to find out what Katarina was after," Nevar broke in.

"Do you think she's after the amulet, too?" Alyssa suggested.

"Doubtful," he answered. "She has no claim to it, though it is possible that she knows we have it. I have a feeling this is ancient history repeating."

Xander stiffened at Nevar's words. Alyssa could almost feel the cold chill that ran the length of his spine. His thoughts had paled to a sickening grey. Alyssa felt horrible for him. Nevar had changed her, but it wasn't the same as being bitten by a werewolf. She wondered how much of her dream had been real and how much was her imagination. She would have to ask him about it when she got a chance.

"Xander, you need to sleep," Alyssa told him. It wasn't an order, exactly, but she had put weight behind the statement that left no room for debate. "You're looking very pale," she added.

He gave her a soft smile and there was a hidden nuzzle in his thoughts. LunR returned his nuzzle silently, but she gave nothing away on the outside. There was something he was hiding from her. She felt the red hot pain in his thoughts, but he was careful not to let her know why he was in pain.

"Alyssa, you should take Jessie out to hunt. She needs to let the wolf run," he responded aloud.

"Not without you, Xander," she argued. She might be Jessie's friend, but she knew nothing about newly changed Weres and she was uncomfortable explaining things she had only just learned herself.

"She won't need much guidance," he coaxed,
but if she doesn't transform on her own, the wolf will do it for her and she could lose control.

She understood why he didn't want to scare Jessie, but Alyssa knew they would need to tell her before she found out the hard way. "Alright. I'm up for it if you are, Jess?"

With a heavy sigh, she swung her legs off the couch and stood up slowly, no doubt testing the leg she believed was ruined. Alyssa noted the high sheen to her once dull colored locks. So, the were gene enhanced her beauty as well. She took a more careful look at Jessie.

Her legs were well-toned and had filled out nicely compared to the spindly sticks Alyssa remembered. Jessie had always been too thin, but now, her body held just the right amount of curve for her 5'7" frame. She had never had much luck with men in the past but Alyssa knew that wouldn't be the case now. She had been too shy and timid before. The wolf would remedy that in no time.

"I guess I'm up for it. My leg seems to be okay, after all. It's gotta be better than sitting on my butt all day."

Alyssa laughed at her. "You're going to love it here, Jess! I guarantee you'll never be bored."

"Alyssa," Nevar put his hands on her waist. A gentle touch that sent heat pouring through her body. "I'm going to stay here with Xander. I think it would be wise if we stay in groups in case Katarina or Gabriel return."

"Who's Gabriel?" Jessie inquired.

"I'll explain later," Alyssa said. "Why don't we go outside?"

Alyssa led her down the hall and through the front door. There was so much to tell her friend, but the easiest way was to show her through the mind of the wolf, and for that, she had to somehow teach her what she had discovered by chance.

Once they were outside, Alyssa walked them away from view of the manor. She found a well-manicured hedgerow separating the manor from the edge of the vineyard and they walked around behind it.

"Where are we going, 'Lyss?"

"If you don't want to tear your clothes to shreds, what's left of them, you may want to undress. I knew you'd want some privacy," she said.

"Alyssa, I don't know if I can do this. None of this seems real to me."

She put her hands on Jessie's shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "To be honest with you, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this, too. Imagine finding out your dead mother is alive and well, and not only that, but she's a 500 year old werewolf. Now that you're here with me, I don't feel so alone, but I never wished any of this on you."

"I wish your mother had left me out of this."

She smiled at her friend, but words failed her. She was too happy having her friend with her to agree with her. "Are you ready to give this a try?"

"Not really," she admitted.

"Do you want me to show you first or would you prefer I explain it?"

She had a frightened expression on her face. "I'd prefer you explained it while you still look human."

"I don't blame you. I transformed by accident. Xander was in danger and I jumped in to save him. My anger unleashed the wolf. It might be helpful if you search inside yourself to find your wolf."

Jessie was skeptical at first. It all sounded like a bad script to her. Still, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt a gentle breeze touch her skin and caught the scent of ripening grapes and the faint smell of hay and horses. The air was heavy with loss and she felt her world slipping away from her. The loss she felt was weighing down on her. A single tear trickled down her cheek. She let it fall.

Then, she felt something she'd never felt before. She heard the soft whimper of an animal in pain, but as she tried to reach out to it, it vanished into the depths.

"Jessie! You found it!"

"For a second, I did."

"But that's great! We need to strip before we try to bring her out anyway. Remember how you felt, Jess. Certain emotions trigger the transformation. Yours seems to be sorrow."

Jessie considered for a moment. "Okay, I'm ready to try, but can I watch you first?"

She smiled. "Of course you can, but forgive me for a moment while I undress, okay?"

Jessie respectfully turned her back to give Alyssa time to disrobe. She supposed she had better do the same, but she was uncomfortable undressing outside in a strange place. The wolf tickled the back of her mind again and it urged her to do it anyway. She was self-conscious, but as she undressed, the presence of the wolf grew stronger. Perhaps embarrassment was related to sorrow, she thought.

"I'm ready, Jess."

Jessie covered as much of herself as she could with her hands and turned around. She was starting to see the changes in her body and realized there was much more of herself to cover than there had been. Alyssa, however, stood proudly. The once modest model looked as though she were about to pose for a magazine.

"Don't be afraid of me, Jess. I promise I won't hurt you," she told her. "Here goes nothing."

Jessie watched quietly as Alyssa closed her eyes. She saw her clench her fists and her muscles tightened. Then, her body began to twist and stretch. Her fingers shortened and her hands grew fur. Her jaw stretched out and her teeth elongated. It was truly a terrifying sight, and yet, Jessie could not tear her eyes away from the half-formed figure in front of her. Alyssa reared forward onto all fours, nearly as big as a horse.

Where the wolf that had bitten her had been vicious and terrifying, Alyssa was elegant and beautiful. She looked like a rare exotic circus animal and every bit as beautiful as a white tiger. She held her head and her tail high. She managed to look like she was posing for cameras just by standing still.

"Oh, 'Lyss! You are stunning! I think this life agrees with you," she told her, hoping she understood. She nodded her head to her, but she wasn't sure if she meant that she understood, or that it was her turn. Her lips parted in a sort of wolfish grin and she nodded again.

"Okay, I get it. My turn," she said. Okay, she could do this. Here she was, standing naked in a vineyard next to an enormous white wolf and having a conversation. If this was some sort of prank, she was going to kill someone. She closed her eyes and focused.

Trying to bring out the wolf, she remembered how she felt when the man she had hoped to one day marry walked out on her, leaving her alone and empty. She had cried for weeks and the pain was still there, buried inside her where she had fought to hide it. Now, she let it out. All the tears and the heartache exploded inside her.

The wolf rose like a dark cloud inside her, raging like a storm. Tears poured from her like rain drops. Her body was alive with power and electricity. Her muscles coiled and stretched and her bones felt like they had burst into flames and melted. When she screamed, it came out as a snarl. She contorted so that she could no longer stand upright and fell to the ground. She opened her eyes and saw paws instead of hands holding her up.

Alyssa was watching intently as Jessie finished her first transformation. It was a milestone, to be sure, and the first of many for her. Being only half-were, Alyssa had more control over the wolf than even Xander did, but even she had to fight to keep the beast in check now that it had awakened in her.

Jessie had a beautiful gray coat with black markings. Had she been smaller, much smaller, she would have passed for an Alaskan Malamute. She had piercing ice blue eyes that were nearly white. She looked like a storm rolling across the sky.

She wagged her tail at her friend and gave her a play bow. Her thoughts danced like the waters of a river frolicking over rocks. Jessie looked around, seeing the world with new eyes and her nose worked furiously.

She had enough of the were gene in her now that her senses had improved significantly, although, her thoughts appeared fuzzy compared to Alyssa's. She wasn't quite there yet, but already, she had progressed beautifully. Her body seemed to have accepted the gene rather than fight it, which was lucky for Jessie. It would be another week, at least, before she was fully were, but that was much quicker than they could have hoped for.

Let's go for a run,
she sent to Jess.