Sirius finds the book open on the kitchen table, next to a half-drunk mug of black tea.
It’s old—stitched binding, pages gone soft with age and thumb-worn devotion. The text is in Polish, but the images tell their own story: wolves mid-shift, men with hollow eyes and fur growing out of their backs, full moons rising over forests that don’t exist on any British map.
He runs a finger along the margin. A note in Remus’s neat hand:
Not the same as Greyback. Older. Wild. Holy.
“You’re reading my grandfather’s book,” Remus says from the doorway, quiet but not unkind.
Sirius doesn’t look up. “I thought you said your werewolf condition came from the bite.”
“It did,” Remus says, walking in slowly. He smells like firewood and ink. “But my mother’s people—her father’s side—they had stories about others. Different wolves. Ones born, not made.”
“Born?”
Remus leans on the table beside him. “Not from infection. From inheritance. From the land. They didn’t fear them, not in the same way. Feared the hunger, sure—but they left offerings for the wolves. Called them guardians.”
Sirius looks up at him finally. There’s still that pale hollowness under Remus’s eyes, the kind that never left after the war. But there’s something else too. Something Sirius hasn’t seen since before Azkaban. Belief.
“So what are you saying?” Sirius asks. “That you were… always meant to be this?”
“I don’t know,” Remus admits. “But sometimes, when I wake in the woods after a full moon, I remember things. Not mine. Someone else’s bones. Someone else’s hunger. Like I’m not just a werewolf. Like I’m part of an old story I never got taught properly.”
Sirius reaches for the book again. Another margin note:
Wilkołak are not cursed. They are watchers. Protectors. Punishers.
Sirius swallows. “Do you think Greyback knew?”
“I think he wanted me to believe I was nothing more than a disease,” Remus says softly. “But the wolf in me—it doesn’t feel like him. It feels… older. Angry, yes. But not evil. Lonely.”
They’re both quiet for a moment.
Then Sirius touches Remus’s wrist, gentle. “You don’t scare me.”
Remus smiles. “The stories say the wilkołak could tear through whole villages when wronged.”
“Good,” Sirius says. “Let them tremble. Let me see it.”
And Remus—scarred, tired, part-legend—leans in and kisses Sirius like a man who remembers the taste of iron and snow and blood. Like a man born to howl.
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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 8/?
Fandom: Adventure - Fandom, werewolf - Fandom, Witch - Fandom, Original Work
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Tess/Tom, Werewolf/Witch
Characters: Tess, Tom, Sirens (Character), Destru, Pirates - Character
Additional Tags: Adventure, Werewolves, Werewolves Turn Into Actual Wolves, Witches, wilkolak, Friends to Lovers, Alpha - Freeform, Teens, Alternate Universe - Teenagers, Herbalist - Freeform, Flowers, Potions, Potions Accident, hero - Freeform, Hero Adventure, Sirens, Plot Twists, Child Death, Minor Character Death, Spells & Enchantments, Short Chapters
Summary:
Wilkolaks are known as the superior werewolves, able to shift without a moon and top ranking amongst all alphas. The High Priestess is known as the most powerful witch among the covens, and able to do powerful spells when they come into their magic at the age of sixteen. Follow the story of two teens, as they go backpacking for a final hurrah before their studies begin. One final adventure can't turn bad...can it?
Destru looked up from leaning against a work table when Tom was brought into the kitchen. "Is everything alright?" Destru asked, as Tom was sat in a chair.
Tom chuckled a little as he slouched in the chair, trying to find the strength to sit upright. "She still has her sirens kiss," he finally managed to gasp out. "She thought Nyx might know how to make it go away faster."
Nyx grumbled as he moved towards Tom. Forcing Tom to look him in the eye as he assessed how bad he was. After a few moments, Nyx turned away and began looking for ingredients.
"Just couldn't get enough of her after she killed you, could ya?" Destru winked with a slight smirk.
Tom attempted a smile, thinking about their most recent kiss. She was still perfect to him. "What can I say? I'm in love with her." He groaned as he lost the strength to stay sitting and fell to the ground, much to the delight of Destru.
"Oh how I wish I had a camera," Destru pretended to take a picture with his hands. "Perfect blackmail," he continued to howl with laughter as Nyx came back.
Nyx let out a gravelly moan as he picked Tom up by the collar and laid him on the table. He carefully administered the potion he brewed, tilting Tom's head so he could swallow without choking. After the potion was gone Tom began to feel his fingers and toes, wiggling them as he got his feeling back.
"We need to figure out how we're getting off this awful Island," Destru mused as Tom slowly sat up on the table.
"How do the sirens get around?" Tom wondered, as the trolls in the kitchen began to start preparing the next meal.
"They're sirens," Destru crossed his arms sourly. "They swim everywhere."
"But they knew how to sail your ship. They must have ships around here somewhere," Tom pressed, stopping when a roar was heard behind him.
Tom and Destru turned to see Nyx carrying a large baking sheet with something on it. One of the other trolls had tried taking it from him. "What's gotten into you Nyx?" Destru asked, his attention now on the tray.
Nyx gently sat the tray down next to Tom. "Cap'n" Nyx said, giving a nod towards Destru.
Destru made a confused look, before slowly removing the sheet, revealing gray spotted ears. Tom held his breath as Destru continued to reveal Runes body, tears in his eyes.
"Thank you," Destru whispered, looking towards Nyx. "We'll give him a proper burial." He rested his head on Runes for a few moments, then looked towards Nyx.
The troll nodded in agreement, baring his teeth as other trolls made their way near them.
"He stopped them from serving him to the sirens," Tom said in awe as he realized Nyx probably had gotten in trouble for doing what he did.
Destru and Tom jumped once more when Nyx knocked a plate out of another trolls hand. "Priestess gets fruit," he grumbled out.
The troll that had brought Tom down came up to Nyx with their arms raised, irritation on his face. "You don't get a say here. You're not ranked enough." He argued. "Matera clearly stated if the priestess didn't complete the ritual she would be fed the organs of a sailor."
"Matera's dead," Tom pointed out, making the troll look towards him for the first time.
"Her body may be dead, but her presence is still around," the troll whispered, fear in his eyes. "She was too powerful to be killed by a witchling."
"I don't feel anything," Tom mused, as Destru shrugged.
The troll curled his lip at them. "No magics wouldn't feel anything. Some High Priest you'll make." The troll moved further into the kitchen directing the other trolls to their tasks.
Tom mentally pictured himself folding wolf ears back to lay on his head. He still wasn't good at expressing irritation. "We should gather everyone so we can figure out how to leave," Tom pushed himself off the table.
"Priestess," Nyx's voice rumbled as their attention turned to the doorway out of the kitchen.
Tess was debating on coming to join them, only stopping when she saw Runes body laying on the table. She had tears in her eyes as she looked towards Destru, waiting to see a reaction. "Destru-"
Destru held a hand up, making Tess stop her sentence with a small sob. "Best not to discuss it now," Destru stared at Runes body, not meeting Tess' gaze.
Tess nodded, knowing Destru wouldn't see it. "I'll wait outside," she whispered, then turned to go into the hallway.
"Tess! Wait!" Tom called, stopping her at the door. He walked up to her and brushed a stray hair out of her face. "Are you okay?" he whispered, studying her frown.
"I'll be fine," she took his hand into hers, making sure to look anywhere that wasn't Destru or Rune.
"Are you sure?" Tom persisted. He waited until she nodded, giving him a weak smile. "Okay," he returned her smile and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "We're trying to figure out how to get home. Do you know how the sirens got around?"
"They don't have any ships that I know of," Tess' frown returned as she continued to think. "I could probably raise Destru's ship if it was one of the last one's they sunk."
"You could do that?" Tom asked, incredulously, amazed that her powers had grown this much in just a year and a half.
Tess nodded in confirmation. "I'll just need to rest for a bit afterwards because of these bracelets," Tess raised her arm to show him the thin silver bracelet entwined around her wrist.
"What are they for?" Tom asked, his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.
"They're supposed to help me with my power surges," Tess examined the bracelets in the torch light. "I was supposed to have them removed once the ritual was completed."
"I think I know someone who can help take those off," Tom gave Tess a quick kiss on the lips then walked back into the kitchen, leaving her dazed in the hallway.
Destru looked up from the table when Tom reentered the kitchen, his ears perked forward. "Any news?"
"Tess says she can raise your ship," Tom answered, suddenly realizing he was feeling warm once again. "Can we go to your brother's village?"
"If she can raise my ship, I'll take her wherever she likes," Destru nodded. "We'll be heading there to bury Rune with his parents."
Tom nodded, leaning against the table as his legs threatened to collapse under him. "Good plan...Nyx" Tom called weakly towards the troll as he gave a sheepish smile.
Nyx rolled his eyes as he lumbered away to gather more ingredients. Destru laughed as Tom collapsed to the ground, the siren's kiss taking effect on him once more. "Stock up on those Nyx!" Destru howled after the troll. "We'll be needing them most of the trip I reckon!"
All that answered Destru was an annoyed grumble.
—----
Tess was raising Destru's ship shortly after the noontime meal. Destru's crew whooping in excitement when the prow broke the surface of the water. The ship creaked and groaned as water expelled out of the port and canon holes in the sides. It took a few concentrated minutes for Tess to repair the damage. Tom lent her some of his energy when she began to feel fatigued from the energy the boat and her bracelets took from her.
She was leaving the sirens on good terms. They were going to search out their original matriarch that Matera had run out when she joined this group of sirens. They promised to stay in touch and try to find a place in the new world. Debating on becoming fisherwomen to help nearby towns. Tess was proud of the few strides for improvement they were making in such a short amount of time.
Tess stood on the dock breathing hard as Tom helped her stay upright. Destru's crew were beginning to load the ship up to make the trip home. Rune's body was carefully laid in the cargo hold, where crew members could pay respects if they found the need to. "Aterea," Tess gave a weak smile towards the young siren that was hesitantly coming up to her and Tom.
"Priestess," Aterea shuffled up to Tess, nodding towards Tom as she came closer. "Priest."
"How can I help you?" Tess watched as Aterea fumbled with a package at her side.
"We wanted to give this back to the High Priest," she offered Tom his sword back. "We should have never taken it from you in the first place."
"Thank you for returning it," Tom answered, taking the sword from the young siren. "We wish you peace and happiness in your new beginnings."
"Thank you," Aterea gave a small bob, before offering another item to Tess. "This is the Priestess' athame." Aterea handed Tess her jeweled dagger that she had used in the ritual sacrifices. "I know it might hold bad memories for you, but the High Priestess is the only one that can use the powers held in it."
"Thank you," Tess took the athame from Aterea and placed it carefully in the sash of her dress. "I wish you the best in your future," Tess whispered in the young siren's ear as she gave her a hug.
"Don't forget about us," Aterea whispered back.
"I won't," Tess promised, as Tom offered his arm to board Destru's ship. Tess took it and looked around the ship. It was just as she had remembered it.
"Everyone aboard?" Destru called from the main wheel. The pirates ran about and untethered the boat, freeing it from the dock. "Off we go!" Destru smirked, setting sail for his brother's village.
Tess and Tom watched as the island slowly disappeared from view, ready to see where their new future would take them as the High Priestess and the Wilkolak.
****** Author's Note *******
Thank you for reading my story! I appreciate all of you who have stuck around and everyone who commented and liked the posts. You are all wonderful people!
Keep your eyes peeled for the next instalment of this story titled "A Buried Legend". This story will take place during Tess and Tom's separation following the story of another witch and werewolf named Seraphina and Wellsley.
Thanks again! Much love! And hope you enjoyed the story!
Tess panted heavily as she looked at her mother's fallen form on the ground. She was suddenly very fatigued. The door to the room opened and closed. The other sirens must have left the room. She stumbled backwards, feeling lightheaded.
"I've got ya," a soothing voice whispered in her ear as someone caught her falling form.
Tess looked up at her savior's face. "Tom?" She whispered, as her vision blurred.
She heard his familiar chuckle as he scooped her into his arms.
"Go to sleep," the voice whispered as she closed her eyes, exhaustion finally claiming her.
——-
Tess woke up to her curtains drawn. She groaned as she sat up. Every single part of her ached. How had she made it back to her room? She couldn't remember anything after crying over Tom's fallen form. She slowly swung her legs out from under the covers, uttering small groans of pain as she did so. What did she do last night? She hobbled over to her vanity and sat down.
Tess pulled at her eyelids, examining the bags that had formed under them. Did she not sleep well the night before? Sighing, she reached for her hairbrush to brush out the night from her hair. She looked down when she didn't find it right away.
Where was it? She always left it on the vanity. "Looking for something?" A familiar voice whispered into her ear, startling Tess. She hadn't heard anyone come into her room.
She looked up into the mirror to see Tom standing behind her. Tess gasped, a hand flew to her mouth, as she whirled around to face him. "Tom?" she whispered, reaching a shaky hand, not daring to believe he was alive.
"It's me," he whispered, opening his arms to her, tears brimming in his eyes. He had finally found Tess, and he could hold her.
Tess sprang to her feet and fell into Tom's arms, relishing the feeling of them wrapped around her. She pulled away slightly to look at him. He had an angry red line where she had slit his throat the previous night. "I saw you take your last breath," she whispered, gently tracing the line. "How are you still alive?"
Tom brought Tess back into a tight hug, his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent as he swayed them both back and forth. She still had her siren features but they didn't seem to dominate her other features like they had before. "I don't know," Tom replied, not caring for the answer either way. "But I'm not questioning it." Tom took Tess' chin in his hand and gently pressed his lips to hers. A slight warming sensation began to fill him, starting at his lips and working its way down his body. She still had her poison and probably didn't realize what she was doing, Tom reasoned. "Tess," he groaned as his knees gave out.
He collapsed into Tess' arms as she gave him a horrified look. "Tom?" she whispered. Trying to help him regain his feet. It was too good to be true. He was dying now. Of course he wouldn't stay alive.
"You still have your poison," Tom gasped, collapsing further to the floor when Tess couldn't hold his weight anymore. His legs felt heavy like lead.
Tess looked in the mirror after she got Tom settled on the floor and saw her lips glistening. "I'm so sorry," she went back to his side. "I had forgotten all about it."
"It's fine," Tom gave a weak smile, even though he didn't think it was. "Do you have something to get rid of it?"
Tess thought for a moment. "It doesn't affect sirens like it does everyone else," she finally said, pushing back some of Tom's hair. "It's more of a paralysis than a poison. But it should wear off in time. Nyx would probably know a better solution than me. The sirens don't exactly like their prey getting away." Tess ended with a slight smirk that looked almost hungry.
Tom's heart rate spiked, a sudden wave of fear ripping through his body at Tess' smile. "Should we find Nyx?" He asked, trying to ease the sudden fear in his mind. Tess didn't complete the ritual so she wouldn't stay a siren, he reminded himself over and over as the warmth finished spreading over his entire body. It was an accident, she forgot about her sirens kiss, he pleaded with the part of his mind that was trying to convince him that she was too much of a siren. He didn't think he'd be able to make it far on his own, let alone shout for help if he were to need it.
The couple looked towards Tess' door when they heard a knock. A troll servant stood at the door, not making eye contact as he cleared his throat. "Priestess, your presence is requested in the dining hall." The troll bowed and began to walk away.
"Wait!" Tess called, making the servant stop. "I need the troll named Nyx to attend to my friend. Can you either bring Nyx here or bring my friend to him?"
"Certainly," the troll bowed, then walked towards Tom to pick him up.
"I'll check on you as soon as I see what's going on," Tess whispered, putting her hand under Toms chin as his head began to slump forward.
"I'll be counting down the minutes," Tom responded, surprising Tess with another kiss.
Tess looked towards Tom with a concerned look once they separated. Tom chuckled, "I doubt a double dose of your kiss will do anything worse to me."
Tess ruffled his hair while he couldn't do anything about it. "I'll see you in a bit," she nodded towards the troll who picked Tom up and carried him off towards the kitchens.
Trigger Warning - Character Death, Death description, Kill mention
The sirens huddled together. The priestess was only good to them if she wasn't against them. Matera stepped forward, turning Tess' attention to her. "Priestess-"
"My name is Tess," Tess spat out. She felt her power growing, which made little sense to her. She was told she'd only gain her power if she completed the ritual. Her eyes hardened on Matera... another lie.
Matera paused for a moment before continuing. "Tess," Matera continued. "I was the one who killed your father and ate his heart."
"Why?" Tess asked after a pause. She felt like all the air had been knocked out of her.
Matera gestured to the surrounding room, an enormous smile plastered on her face. "Why, the same reason as you... power!"
Tess stopped as everything came crashing down on her. She didn't want this power. In fact, she had gone for years wishing she was powerless. This woman, whether or not she was her actual mother, was nothing like her. "We are nothing alike," Tess whispered, her hands clasped into fists as she shook with rage. "I never wanted power! I never wanted to rule over a species! I just wanted to be normal!" Tess shouted. She didn't know when, but she was currently floating in the air. A powerful wind was picking up around her as her power surged.
She saw Tom's lifeless body beneath her, enraging her more. "You said my powers wouldn't come in if I didn't complete the ritual." Tess lifted an energy ball that had formed in her hands. This was the biggest one she had ever made.
Matera was now joining the other sirens, cowering together. They hadn't expected her to turn on them. "I said that, so you'd become a siren," Matera called to her. "You were going to receive your powers, whether or not you did the ritual. We need a powerful priestess so-"
"No!" Tess spoke, several voices surrounding her own. "For as long as I have been here, you have done nothing to make your way in the new age. The old age is dead, and nothing you do will change that!"
Tess threw the energy ball at a wall in a fit of rage. It tore through the stone like it was paper. It landed in the forest near the mountains almost thirty miles away. She floated to the ground near Tom's sword. She looked at the blade, reading the inscription. True love never dies.
"Now Tess, you need to calm down," Matera tried to take control once more.
"I need you to be truthful," Tess yelled, picking up the sword and swinging it towards her mother.
Matera waved her hand to the side, deflecting the sword, catching Tess off guard. "This is the destiny of the High Priestess." Matera walked towards Tess. "I was a High Priestess. Your grandmother was High Priestess. Her mother was High Priestess. You must accept your duty."
Tess slowly backed away from her mother, dragging the sword with her. It was much heavier than she had expected. She was becoming drained of energy after everything that had happened so far. Her bracelets hadn't been taken off yet. "They didn't become sirens," Tess whispered.
"No, but they would have if they had known the power granted with the transformation. You only have a little bit of time left before you can no longer perform the ritual," Matera continued. She used her own magic to propel herself to Tom's body. She lifted her hand in the air, preparing to rip the heart out and force feed it to Tess. "It's time to take your place!"
Matera's hand shot down to Tom's body, making Tess scream in horror. Tess felt energy build up on herself as she grabbed her mom's wrist before she made it to Tom. "You will not touch him," Tess commanded, her voice taking on the sound of many voices once more.
Matera backed away. She couldn't ignore Tess when she used this voice. Tess looked at Tom, then back at her mother. She took a deep breath, then straightened. There was only one way to end this. "As High Priestess-"
"You didn't finish the ritual," Matera tried interrupting before getting cut off by Tess.
"I am High Priestess regardless of finishing the ritual!" Tess silenced her mother, who backed away, her arms covering her eyes as Tess began glowing with power. "And I have decided you will not be allowed to hurt anyone else."
"And what do you plan on doing?" Matera scoffed, doubting that Tess would have the courage to kill her. She couldn't even finish the ritual with Tom.
"I will make sure you can find no one else to hurt." Tess' voices echoed throughout the room. She walked up to her mother and reached a hand towards her. Matera took a step back, not sure what Tess was planning.
"Be still!" Tess commanded, making Matera stop in her tracks. Matera looked up at Tess fearfully, as she was now planted where she was standing. Tess reached her hand out and touched Matera's chest above where her siren's broken heart was. "You will no longer be on this plane of living. For the rest of eternity, you will roam this earth. You will cry out, but nobody will hear you. You will try to be seen, but nobody will see you." Tess looked into the eyes of her mother, as her face was drained of color. "As I say it, so shall it be." Tess finished, removing her hand.
Matera stood stock still for a few moments, then began laughing when nothing happened. "You! You, child! You think you can destroy me with a few words?" She cackled. Stopping only when she saw Tess looking towards the ground. She followed Tess' gaze to see her body on the ground, staring off into nothing, a silent scream etched on her face.
Matera looked at her hands, trying to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her. "No, no, no," she whispered to herself. She rushed over to the group of sirens that were staring toward her body. "Sisters, you see me?" Matera waved in front of the faces of her found family.
None of them reacted to her. Matera fell to the ground in a sobbing mess. The remaining sirens made their way out of the room while Tess was still distracted.
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Tess cracked an eye open when her knife came to an abrupt halt right above Tom's chest. She rubbed the tears from her face, trying to see clearer. "As you would have if you were still here by my side," Tess said once more. She brought the knife down, only for it to stop mere centimeters from his chest.
"Priestess, what's going on?" Materas' shrill voice rang out in the silence.
"I-I don't know," Tess admitted as she attempted to bring her knife down once more. She heard Matera accusing the other sirens of not removing protective clothing. She ignored all the shouting as she noticed a shining coming from his pants pocket. Tess reached in and felt a familiar round orb. "My star," Tess whispered as she inspected the tiny glowing orb. "You went back and got it for me," Tess looked towards Tom's unmoving face. It was becoming pale white as the blood rushed from it.
Tess took a shuddering breath as she realized what had happened. "Dad said it would always protect me if I kept it on me," Tess continued to whisper, not realizing the glowing had intensified.
"Priestess, why is your hand glowing?" A siren asked from across the room in horror.
Tess looked at her hand to see that the glowing had grown too bright to look at. She dropped the orb, which rolled away from her, shielding her eyes. Her siren vision was coming in and they didn't like bright things.
"Tess," a male voice called from across the room.
Tess lowered her arm to see a figure standing above the orb. She cocked her head as she tried to figure out where she had seen this person before. He looked so young and homely. Much like a father would. Tess stopped and stood, staring at the figure in disbelief. "Dad?"
The man smiled in her direction. "My little girl. My, how much you've grown." He raised his arms as if to hug her, only to realize he was a projection. "I wish I could be here celebrating your sixteenth birthday with you, young priestess."
"Dad, I miss you," Tess cried, moving closer. She reached a shaky hand out, only to pull it back to herself. Would she be able to touch him? "Why did you leave me?"
The projection sighed and looked towards her sadly. "I needed to get you somewhere safe." Was the only explanation he offered.
Tess knew her father wasn't really there, but she felt his presence as if he was right next to her. She figured he had put a part of his soul in it. That's why he could answer her questions directly.
"Tess, I need you to know something," her father continued. "The path your mother is taking you down is very dangerous."
"But, I was told that mom was dead," Tess looked towards her father in confusion. Maybe it was a recording, and she just reacted the way he thought she would.
"No, my little star. You have been with your mother this whole time. She did the same thing to me she is having you do to Tom."
"Tess, don't listen to that cursed thing," Matera called, forcing Tess to remember there were other people in the room.
"Tess, I only wanted the best for you and I had hoped you would've been safe with Tom's family. I see I was wrong, and I'm sorry for my assumption." Her dad looked over towards Tom's lifeless body. "I was terrified that she would kill you like she had your brother. I took you in the middle of the night to get you to a safe place. That's when you met Tom and his family."
Tess thought back on when she had met Tom. She had clung to her father as he pleaded with Tom's parents to keep her safe. Tom had been watching from the hallway, not wanting anyone to know he had crept out of bed. She had cried and cried when her father gave her to Tom's mom, and walked out of their door. He had left her with her book of spells and the orb that he had put a piece of his soul into.
Matera kept calling for Tess in the background, trying to get her attention back. Finally, Tess had enough. "Silence!" She shouted in several voices to the matron siren. "I will tell you when you can speak!"
Matera looked taken aback, but kept her silence.
"Dad, this is too hard," Tess whispered as she walked closer to his projection, much to the dismay of her eyes. "I don't know what to do," she squinted as she came closer, suddenly feeling like a small child lost in the world.
"I have little time left," her dad's projection leaned down and hugged her. Tess returned the hug, shocked when she smelt wood smoke on her dads projection. This was a piece of his soul.
"Please don't leave me," Tess cried, falling to the floor. "I can't do this on my own."
"Listen," her dad squatted in front of her and lifted her chin to look at him. "Everyone has choices to make. Some of them are right and some are wrong. But we may make the correct choice after a wrong one. It is you who decides where to go from where you are. Understand?"
Tess nodded her head, sniffling.
"Please be careful, my little star." Her father stood upright as his projection faltered. "I have and always will love you." With that, his projection was gone. The orb was now a dull golden nugget.
Tess' body shook as she took in her empty world. All her friends and family were dead, except for apparently her mother. "Who?" Tess whispered harshly, as she turned to face the sirens. "Who killed my father?" She ended in a shout.
The sirens flinched as her rage was projected on them. None of them dared to speak, all looking amongst themselves.
"Which of you forced me to destroy my family?" Tess stood rigid in front of the sirens, who were now fidgeting. A few of them looked towards the door. Tess noticed the looks and moved her hand closest to the door, slamming the doors closed.
"Priestess," Matera's voice cut into Tess' thoughts. Tom scowled at her. He felt like he was getting through to Tess. "I hate to remind you we're on a time schedule."
Tess went through a series of emotions before landing on a calm face. "Did he come with anything?"
"I-I'm sorry?" Matera asked, surprised by the question.
"Did he come with anything?" Tess raised her voice, turning towards the matron siren.
Matera flinched before regaining her composure. "He had a sword. It's put away."
"I want to see it," Tess demanded, looking Matera straight in the eyes.
Matera was about to argue back, but motioned for another siren to leave the room. "As you wish, priestess," Matera bowed, then moved to the side of the room.
"Look at you, commanding a room," Tom teased, trying to get Tess to focus on him again. If he could just break through whatever the sirens had done to her, he might stand a chance.
"Lots of practice," Tess smirked, turning back towards him.
Tom could see Matera becoming agitated at the stalling. He did his best to keep Tess' attention on him, trying to keep her talking. Soon his sword was brought in and laid before Tess.
"Beautiful sword," Tess reached out towards it. She clasped the handle and studied it. She glanced at Tom, confused. "Sword of the High Priest?"
Tom shook his head. "I'm just as confused as you are."
Tess thought for a few moments, then put the sword down next to Tom. "So the story we grew up with was true."
"It appears so," Tom replied solemnly. He had always thought the story of the High Priestess and the Wilkolak was a fantasy story. Told to scare him and his brother if they misbehaved, but there seemed to be some truth to it.
Matera cleared her throat behind Tess, making Tess look back at her athame. She had placed it on the ground near Tom. She looked at Tom, fear in her eyes. "I don't want to," she whispered. Her body was shaking. "I don't want to kill you."
"You don't have to," Tom replied in a soothing voice. "You have a choice."
Tess shook her head, "No, I don't."
"Yes, you do," Tom whispered forcefully. "Everyone has a choice... and you do, too."
Tess stayed in her kneeling position, hugging herself, her face nearly on the ground. Tom felt bad that Tess had been put into this difficult situation. "Tess," Tom called gently, making her look up at him, her cheeks tear stained. "No matter your decision. I will always love you."
"I love you too," Tess whispered as Matera continued egging her on. Tess crawled up to Tom's side, then gently pressed her lips on Tom's.
His lips quickly met hers, trying to meet a hunger that neither of them knew existed. Tess almost became lost in the moment. Their lips working against each other, matching movement for movement. She took her knife and released Tom's hands in one swift motion.
Tom didn't waste a second and immediately cupped Tess' face, bringing her in closer to him. He felt his body fill with warmth as the poison on her lips worked into his system, but he didn't care. His rough sea chapped lips were against her soft smooth ones. They only stopped when Tess sliced into his throat with her athame. He let out a strangled cry, gasping for air, as he fell into her. Her tears splashing into his hair as she laid her head on his, her fingers running through his hair. "I'm sorry," she whispered repeatedly, as her body was racked with sobs.
The bell tower had struck midnight. She felt Tom's lips trying to say something against her skin. She placed her hand on his cheek to let him transfer his thoughts to her.
I forgive you; Tom's voice filled her head.
"Tom," Tess cried, her heart beginning to break, the siren's curse taking over her.
"Eat his heart!" Matera's voice chanted to Tess in the background.
Tess could barely hear her over the pounding in her ears. She laid Tom on the ground, his breathing becoming shallower. She put her hand on his chest, preparing to remove his heart so she could finish the ritual.
"I can't," she finally said, throwing herself across Tom's still warm body. "I'm so sorry! I can't! You trusted me," she sobbed, her tears soaking Tom's shirt.
She half expected him to put a hand on her back to comfort her, but he never did. "Tom, I'm so sorry." She took her shaky hand and closed Tom's eyelids. He had taken his last breath a few moments prior.
She held her head to his chest, listening desperately for a heartbeat. "Tom," she wailed over and over, her heart cracked in two. She felt the changes as they came to her. She just needed to finish the ritual to make them permanent.
"Finish the ritual!" Materas' voice screamed at her from across the room.
Finish the ritual.
Tess sat up, wiping the tears from her eyes, trying to regain composure. She began moving Tom's shirt away from his chest, turning her attention to where his heart was.
The bell tower rang out the final toll, signifying midnight. She needed to finish this before the next hour came.
"Please lend me the strength of the love in your heart." Tess raised her athame above Tom's lifeless chest. Tears continuing to course down her flushed cheeks. Tom's smiling face entering her mind. "That you freely gave to me, every day you were alive." Her hands shook as she continued. Memories upon memories flooding her mind at all the things the two used to do together. One thing was constantly the same in every single one. Tom's love for her, the way he looked at her, protected her, teased her. He had loved her since the first day they had met, and she had killed him.
"Please continue to bless me and give me your strength throughout my life," Tess' voice broke. She shifted her grip on her athame's handle. "As you would have if you were still here by my side." Tess finished, closing her eyes. She brought her knife down to pierce Tom's chest.
Tom nursed his wounds over the next few days until they pulled him from his cell. His hands forced behind him and bound. He nearly collapsed when he stepped on his foot wrong. Matera pointed her hand at him and a soft blue light surrounded him. He felt his bruises and scrapes healing. "Why?" Tom asked, catching his breath. He hadn't expected the sensation to be so overwhelming.
"You need to be presentable for the priestess on her birthday," Matera explained before walking away. The troll that was guarding him pushed Tom forward.
"I'm going, I'm going," Tom muttered as he stumbled. He followed Matera into a room with a high vaulted ceiling. A large circle was made of flooring tiles in the middle of the room. Torches lined the walls, reflecting the glass from the nearby windows. There appeared to be a snowstorm outside.
Tom was marched directly into this large circle, then forced to the floor. His ankles were bound and then his wrists attached to his ankles. His back felt like it was forcefully arched forward. Matera moved some stray hairs out of his face as she opened his shirt a little more to reveal his chest. Easier access to his heart, he figured.
"Don't go anywhere," Matera smiled, as she left him there to wait.
"Don't worry, I won't," Tom seethed, the ropes already biting into his skin.
—----
Tess walked down the hallway unhurriedly. She hadn't been feeling the best lately, and she was pretty sure it was because of Tom's presence. Her dark blue dress swished on the stone floor as she made her way to the ritual room. Today was the day she would get her full powers and become a siren.
She stopped by a window as she walked by, breathing in the fresh night air. The full moon was bright tonight. It looked beautiful in the falling snow that framed it in the sky. Sighing, she turned back to her destination. Stalling would not get her out of doing the ritual. She smiled upon seeing Matera outside the room she'd be performing the ritual in. "My priestess," Matera brought Tess into a gentle hug.
"Blessed night," Tess answered, returning the hug.
"Are you ready for tonight?" Matera asked, straightening her gown.
"As I'll ever be," Tess gave a small grimace as her head began pounding more. Why had her previous feeling of unease grown? What was different about this room tonight?
"Do you remember the steps for tonight?"
Tess nodded, her stomach doing flip-flops at the thought. How could she forget? Tonight was going to be her first kiss!
"You're going to do great," Matera gave Tess a big smile, while clasping her shoulder.
"I appreciate your faith in me, mother," Tess responded, taking a deep breath to settle her nerves.
"Remember, the ritual needs to be started by midnight at the latest." Matera turned the knob to the door, opening it. "Happy birthday," she added, as the door swung open.
"It shouldn't be a problem," Tess gave a lopsided grin, turning to see her sacrifice.
Tess' face fell, her heart clenching at the sight of Tom kneeling in the middle of the room. His feet and hands lashed together so he couldn't defend himself. She instantly knew that he was the presence that was making her feel ill. "Mother," Tess whispered, before Matera walked off. "I don't think I can do this."
Matera looked at Tess, surprised. "If you want your powers to come in, you must." Tess looked at Tom with a concerned face, then back to Matera. "The ritual specifically states it must be a loved one."
Tess glanced around the room to see the other sirens looking towards her. They were waiting for the ritual to begin. "But it's Tom." Tess wanted to let her tears loose. This wasn't fair!
"He's the one you love, isn't he?" Matera asked, giving her a sickly sweet smile. "Or were we wrong?"
Tess wanted to scream about how they were completely wrong about their assumption, but she remained silent. They weren't wrong. She took a calming breath, then turned towards Tom. He was watching her, waiting to see what she did.
"Has my blade been cleaned?" Tess asked, not looking at Matera. She wasn't going to get sympathy from her.
Matera gestured to one siren on the side. They brought forth a thin jeweled dagger, offering it to Tess. A priestess' athame. Her athame.
Tess never looked down at the siren. It was one of her younger sisters, just starting to learn magic. She took the athame and began her walk to Tom.
The closer she got, the more he looked familiar and yet different. She looked at her reflection in the dagger she held. She had changed, too. Her skin had begun to shimmer like the other sirens, her teeth were coming in too. It wasn't until she was closer; she saw what was different about Tom.
"Where are your ears?" Tess whispered, kneeling down next to her friend.
Tom looked her up and down slowly, not wanting to miss a single feature of her. Oh, how he had missed her. "You've changed too," Tom finally croaked out, giving her a small smile. His throat felt like sandpaper.
"Tom," Tess took his chin in her hand, turning his face towards her. "What happened? Where were you?" Tears began falling down her face. "I waited for you."
"Tess," Tom wished his hands were free. He'd scoop her up and never let her go. It was tearing his heart to pieces to see her like this. "I thought of you every day and night. I heard your howls... why'd you stop?"
"You did?" Tess asked, thinking of all the times she had howled for him. Then she had stopped. She had lost hope of ever seeing him again.
"I howled back every night, even when I had things thrown at me," Tom offered a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Tess let out a small laugh through her tears. "You were never very good at carrying a tune."
Tom scoffed, acting offended. "Destru's worse. Have you heard him sing? It's like claws on stone."
"He helped you find the Hero's Dias," Tess whispered. She felt her lips grow wet. Her poison was activating, being so close to a loved one.
"He did," Tom smiled, doing his best to not show any of the fear he felt in the pit of his stomach. He might be able to distract Tess for a bit, but the sirens wanted their priestess at full power. His back was aching. He had been in this position for too long. He had lost feeling in his hands several hours ago. "Tess, you were right," Tom continued, keeping her attention on him. "The government knew where it was the whole time."
"I knew it," Tess whispered to herself before looking back at him. "Is that... is that where you-"
"Lost my ears?" Tom asked. His face looked incredibly human without his wolf's ears. "Lost my tail too." He attempted to show Tess, but wasn't able to move much because of the stiffness setting into his joints.
"You traded your wolf?" Tess looked at him sadly.
"I would do anything for you," Tom whispered, meeting her gaze.
"Oh, Tom!" Tess wrapped her arms around his neck. He breathed in her scent. It was still her, even if she had begun to turn into a siren.
