~Burdon~

I woke abruptly to find myself soaking wet, like someone who spent an hour in pouring down rain. And I didn't like it one bit, like a drenched cat.
I shook my head, almost dog-like, and I then realized that I had no idea where I was. One moment I was in a leafy, green forest and the next thing I know, I'm in this strange cave.
My stomach heaved without any warning, and I rolled to my hands and knees just in time for all the water that I had swallowed to come spewing up and out. Even thought the amount of water was a rather small, it cause me to gag it all up. Which ended up making me dry-heave after vomiting everything in my stomach.
"Finally you are awake! I have been waiting for what seems like hours!" a sudden unfamiliar female voice spoke.
Out of the blue, a pale, thin, feminine hand appeared and wiped off the puke from the corner of my mouth with a towel that I have no clue where she got it from. And as she was I raised my head to get a look at her.
A young, pale girl-sixteen, seventeen, perhaps-with brownish-blondish hair, and hazel eyes greeted me. They look like mine, but her's is more of a dark brown than mine is; and my eyes are more gold than hazel. Also those full red lips, and high cheekbones.
"W-wh-what's go-going on?" I demanded as best as I could while stuttering.
This seemed to upset her since she angrily crossed her arms, had a 'grumpy face' on, moodily grumbled at me by going, 'humph.' Then said something incomprehensible.
"What?"
"I said I saved you from drowning, only to have to clean up your throw up," she repeated, bending to wipe up my puke with a rather large towel.
Where did she get the towel, I wondered, hazily. And who is she?
Without even thinking about what I was doing, I placed my hand on top of hers, while she was scrubbing at my vomit, and stared at her as she raised her head to meet mine. "What do you mean 'I saved you from drowning,' and who are you?!"
At this, she seemed both confused and annoyed. "I found you in a pool of water, half dead, and I pulled you out. I have been watching over you ever since then. Let me tell you: it was no joy ride! Most of it was because you kept on waking up all the sudden and barfing, then, almost immediately, falling back unconscious again; others times you were shivering, and jerking in your sleep. This is the only time that I didn't have to hold your head as you fell back to sleep. Also, one of the only time that I got you to be aware of what's around you and where you are."
Noting the frustrated tone she is using, I just muttered a "Sorry," and I left it at that. Plus it worsen my headache that was thudding like someone decided to have a drum set playing in my mind, a bag pipe too, and clanging pots and pans together-loudly.
Her face soften a bit at my apology. But then she must still be trying to act all tough because she said, using a tone that's both teasing and serious, "It's fine as long as I don't have to clean up anymore puke or hold your head while you're having a seizure."
Fine, I thought groggily. That's fine with me.
The pounding in my head seemed to worsen with each beat. Like someone who's desperately trying to get my attention by battering on my forehead. Or something rather.
"Are you okay?" asked the girl next to me.
I groaned, holding my head in my hands. "My head feels like I been kicked by a cow, trampled by a horse, and smashed into a brick wall-repeatedly."
I hardly saw her as her eyes widen in surprise-and alarm?-not to mention that I barely heard her when she exclaimed, "Oh!"
Exhaustion swept over me and all I wanted to do was sleep. "I'm so tired. I'm going to bed. Good night," I muttered, slowly sliding back down to the floor.
But the young woman shook me awake by shaking my shoulders vigorously, saying, "No! You can't sleep!"
I winced at how loud her voice was. Even though it made my migraine worse, I still complain, "But I want to sleep."
"Well, you don't get to sleep!"
"Why not?!"
"Because I said so, and that's a good enough reason!"
I moaned and groaned as she dragged me to my feet and pulled me along, out of the cave. Even if I was smashing into her almost every step of the way.
"Where are you taking me?" For some reason that question seems... familiar-like a distant memory or a forgotten one. I just can't remember where I'd asked or heard it before.
"A place that would be able to help you."
"Where's that?"
"You'll see, you'll see."
I glared at her back from frustration. "Why won't you tell me?"
"Because it's a surprise."
"Oh, do tell him, Ona," broke a male voice to the left of me. "Since he so desperately wants to know."
I abruptly stopped in my tracks upon hearing his voice. No! Crab cakes! I sworn inside of my head. It's my Uncle! Then, all of the sudden, I realized that Ona looks a lot like my Uncle. Double crab cakes! Ona is my cousin! Crab cakes! Crab cakes! Crab cakes! CRAB CAKES! I am in so much trouble!
"I'm taking you home."
Before I could even react, a rather filthy sack was thrown over my head. And almost immediately the drawstrings were yanked tight around my neck-effectively cutting off my air supply.
As if on cue, hands grabbed at me, shoving me to the ground. I kicked whatever was in reach, and tried to make myself as hard to pin down as I possibly could, but the hands holding me down still bound my wrists together.
"I'm growing tired of this cat and mouse game," said my Uncle Roku, sighing. "Why won't you just give up, Evlât? It would make things so much easier."
"Eas-easi-easier for you, bu-but I wi-will jus-just end up pa-paying the pr-pri-price," I responding, gasping as air became more scarce.
Red and black dots began to fill my vision, signaling that I need air soon. And being so air-deprived as it is, I can even hardly keep myself conscious now.
But my Uncle Ruko didn't seem to notice my lightheadedness, because he inquired, "Hmm, but won't it be worth it?" Before I could even give him a glare at him for the sack over my head, as best asI could with near fainting and all, he said, "With knowing that you're serving a great cause, I wonder why you don't want to help." A brief pause as if he's expecting me to speak!
As if! I scoffed mentally. After speaking that mere one sentence, I'm almost out of air.
And without no warning whatsoever, the drawstrings tighten even more, which cut off my last ounce of air. Then I drowned in the blackness's hug.

∞

When I opened my eyes, I rubbed them.
"He's awake," said someone.
"Burdon, are you alright?" asked Father, with worry.
"I'm fine," I said. I had a icepack on my head. "What happened?"
"You fainted."
"I fainted?" I asked. I never fainted in my life.
"Yes, I got to go now. You sure you're okay?" Father asked. I nodded. Father then left. Shortly afterwards, I heard someone come in. Take a wild guess: who came in? I looked at who came in through the door.
"Why are you here?" I snarled.
"I wanted to make sure you're okay," said She.
I rolled my eyes. "How are you Tenter's daughter?" I demanded.
"My mother is Tenter's wife."
"How are you mostly human and part vampire, but you don't have any werewolf blood?" I asked.
"I was born before my father got his werewolf powers. My mother got bitten right before I was born."
"How did your father become a werewolf?" I asked. She said nothing, but starred at my lips. Then I realized what happened. My bloody lip, She cleaning it up, most likely giving it to Tenter, and him getting the blood out of the rag, then somehow getting the blood into his body. "You didn't."
"Oh, but we did," said She, smirking. I jumped out of my bed, and was almost out the door when She caught me around the waist and pulled me back. "You can't tell anyone," said She, covering my mouth with her hand. I licked her hand. "Ow!" yelled She. I opened the door, and ran all the way to the courtroom.
When my Father saw me, he said "Burdon? You're supposed to be in bed."
"No, I'm better now," I said, going to explain how Tenter became a werewolf. But, before I could, my Father spoke.
"Burdon, you just fainted. You can't just get up and walk around without permission from the nurse."
"But-"
"No buts, go to back to bed," ordered Father.
"But I-"
"Burdon, bed now," ordered my Father with a growl.
"No! I-"
"Take my son back to his room and make sure he stays there until the nurse gives the okay," ordered my Father to a guard.
"No!" I yelled as I felt arms grabbing me. I struggled so much it took twenty guards to pin my arms, and yet I still struggled.
"Sorry, Your Highness, but we have to do this," said a guard right before I felt a prick on my neck, and I fell unconscious.
When I woke up I was back in my bedroom. I groaned. I tried to sit up, but I got strangely tried, and had to lay back down. I looked down at my arm and saw on that there was a syringe in my arm. I groaned again.
"Hello, Burdon," said someone next to my bed. I turned my head to see who it was, it was Tenter. "Nice to see you awake again."
"Why are you here?" I asked, coldly.
"Such a cold greeting to someone who's watching over you."
"Like I would ever want to be watched over by you," I snapped.
"Why ever not?" asked Tenter, in a mocking way.
"I know what you did."
"And what did I do?" asked Tenter, mockingly.
"You didn't inherit werewolf blood, you got infected by it."
"How would I do that? There's not a place that keeps werewolf blood," teased Tenter.
"By my blood."
"I'm sure we never met before."
"I met your daughter, She. She bit my lip enough to draw blood, but She didn't drink my blood, She wiped it up with a rag. She must of given it to you. You must of gotten my blood out of the rag somehow, and got my blood into you."
"You're very perceptive. Too bad no one will believe you."
"I can think of a few people."
"Sure you can," said Tenter, sarcastically, and standing up. "Well I'll see you later. I got a kingdom to run." I was so shocked when Tenter said that I couldn't speak. "Oh, didn't you know? I became the new King of the werewolves Anjustlia. You're father back down from his throne because I'm the older one and the rightful heir to the throne."
"You're not the rightful heir to the throne!" I snarled.
"I am to the rightful heir by blood. All thanks to you," said Tenter and he left.
If I had I a list of people I hate, he'll be on the top of it. I was so angry that people named Tenter the new King! Honestly, weren't they fine with my father? I hated how things turned out. I wanted to yell at people for being just idiots, but I couldn't because of the syringe in my arm. Ugh! Force to stay in bed again! I thought. I must've done something because, whatever is in the syringe, made me fall asleep. I woke to someone knocking on the door. I got up and opened the door-the syringe was no longer in my arm.
It was one of the servants. "Excuse me, Your Highness, but this is no longer your room," said the servant.
"What?!"
"This room is for the heir to the throne only."
"But this always been my room!" I complained.
"That was when you're father was King, now he's not, so this is no longer your room."
"That guy is beginning to annoy me," I mumbled. I slammed shut the door.
Once I cleared out my stuff, and put it into my new room, I laid down on my new bed and fell asleep.

***

~Shebna~

I walked into his room, instructed to get the vial to to his system. As soon as I walked in I realized that he was asleep. This makes my job a whole lot easier.
When I reached the bed he started to twitch in his sleep. "No," said Burdon, in his sleep. He started having convulsions.
What's happening? What's going on? Why is he having convulsions? I wondered.
'Hold his head,' said someone, or something. I swirled around, but no one was there. 'Hold his head,' again said the voice in my head. I went to him, holding his head while he was having his convulsions.
"No...no. No!" yelled Burdon, in his sleep. I heard footsteps coming. "Leave us alone! You don't belong here! We never wanted you here!" yelled Burdon, in his sleep.
I'll have to be quick, I said to myself. I was getting the vial out when the door opened. I swung around.
"What are you doing here?!" demanded Karlag.
"I...I came in here to apologized to Burdon for taking his room and his title-to see if that will help calm him down-but when I got here, he was asleep and started having convulsions. I was holding his head to see if that would help," I lied, partly. He came up to me and looked at me as if to tell if I was lying or not. I looked away almost immediately, but Karlag didn't. It was a few seconds before he turned away from me and looked at Burdon. "What's wrong with him?" I asked.
"Nothing. Go back to your room," ordered Karlag.
"But I want to help," I said, hoping he'll accept the help.
My hope dwindled when Karlag snapped at me, saying, "You already done enough!"
That was enough to get me out of the room. As I left the room I knew her parents would be disappointed that I didn't get the vital into Burdon's system. I entered her father's room. My mother isn't allowed on Alaëa Island anymore because she doesn't have werewolf blood, and because she's a vampire.
My father looked up and saw me. "Well, is it done?" asked my Father.
"No, I didn't have a chance before your brother came in."
My father groaned. "She, if this plan is going to work I need everyone to accept me as their new king. I can't do that if there are people rebelling against me and rejecting me as their new king."
"I know."
"All we need to do is get him to trust us, or you," said my Father, as if he has a plan in mind.
"That's going to be hard; he trusts us as much as a venomous snake. Actually I'm pretty sure he'll trust a venomous snake before we get even a slitter of that of that trust. He'll never trust me."
"Did you know that a werewolf of Anjustlia can't resist a person who smells like lavender?" asked Father, smirking.
"No," I said, shaking my head.
"It's true. A girl wearing lavender-or smells like lavender-makes it so hard for them to resist them. That's why, in mating season, so many females wear lavender to attract the males," explained my Father.
"Wouldn't other male werewolves be attract to me if I smell like lavender?" I asked, because I did not want a bunch of males around me when I only wanted one.
"Not if you get the vital in him. Then we can use the special perfume that only he can smell-no one else, not even you and me."
"Really?! Will that work?"
"Absolutely," said Father, smirking.
"Great!" I said, excited.
"Be creative how you get the vital into him. We'll use enough lavender on you to make him beg to be friends with you."
"Excellent!" I said, as I hurried out, leaving the room. I was just so excited! Burdon and I will be friends again, just like we were before he found out that I was a part vampire. I knew that he didn't like vampires-or her anymore for a reason-but that was about to change when I start to smell like lavender.
When I got to Burdon's room he was still asleep, but he was no longer having convulsions. There was a syringe in his arm, it was probably there to help him sleep. Then I got this brilliant idea. I opened the end to the syringe, and poured the stuff-that was in the vital-into the syringe. I left as soon as all the stuff in the vital was in the syringe.
I told her father about it; he was very pleased with me. He sprayed me with the special lavender perfume. He was right; I couldn't smell it, and neither did any other werewolf. I couldn't wait till Burdon woke up, smelled me, and wanted to be my friend again.

***

~Burdon~

As soon as I woke up I smelled it. The scent of lavender. It must be mating season-I was used to it smelling like lavender during mating season. There was really no set date when mating season started-it usually started when everyone started mating, which people start feeling that urge at different times, so it can be all year around or just a month-or ended. Someone must be trying to mate with someone.
The smell seemed to follow me around wherever I went, it was weird. Was someone trying to mate with me? I wondered. I shrugged off the thought, it was probably just my imagination. Or, at least, I hope.
"Hey, Burdon, wait up!" said a voice. I whirled around and saw Allmas. I, casually, walked over to Allmas. Gave him one of those 'man hugs,' then pat him on the back, so did Allmas.
"How are you?" I asked.
"I'm fine, just fighting some vampires. Same old, same old. What about you?" asked Allmas.
"My apparently-recently-discovered-to-be-alive uncle took the throne."
"Why? I thought your father was doing a great job."
"That what I was thinking. But, apparently, he was the older brother, so my father had to give up his throne to him."
"You don't like him do you?" asked Allmas.
"Oh please... I hate him."
"Burdon, you know what they say about hate?" asked Allmas, scorning me.
"It clouds your judgement. And 'it's like a poison, that when you take it you expect the other person to die.'"
Allmas nodded, saying, "Keep that in mind."
I nodded. I smelled it again, the scent of lavender. "Allmas, do you smell that?" I asked.
Allmas sniffed the air and shook his head. "Why? What do you smell?" asked Allmas.
"The scent of lavender."
Allmas sniffed the air again. "I'm not smelling any lavender."
"Weird. I'm smelling like a whole boatload of lavender."
Allmas looked surprised. "You're not running towards whoever sprayed it? Wow! You're very good at not letting lavender affect your senses. Usually if a werewolf of Anjustlia smells lavender they would be dashing for the scent," said Allmas, surprised and impressed.
"I learned to ignore it. Since a lot of females would walk around the castle wearing lavender, trying to get mated with a member of the royal family."
"That's impressive."
"Thanks."
We talked for a while, then we departed from each other. A few minutes after Allmas left the scent of lavender hit me so strong that I stumbled. I ran, trying to get away from the scent. I made it to my room and lock the door.
"Hello, Burdon," said someone.
I whirled around and saw She. "Why are you here?" I demanded.
"Oh, no reason," said She, and she shrugged.
I caught the scent of lavender again, it was very strong this time. "It was you this whole time?!" I demanded.
"Who else?" asked She.
"Why?!"
She stood up and walked towards me, while I was looking for the lock with my hand behind my back. "To get you to trust me and my father."
"I would rather trust a venomous snake," I snapped. Where is the lock? I though, panicking.
"We know, that's why we use lavender."
"I learned to ignore it," I said, still searching for the lock.
"I got enough on me that would attract even you. How do you explain why you're here and not somewhere else?"
"I was running away from the smell and you happened to be here."
"Did you know lavender clouds your senses and sense of judgement? Well it does. When you think your running away you're actually running towards the smell, because your body can't resist it-no matter how much you try."
"No," I said, refusing to believe it. Where is that stupid lock?! I thought, panicking even more.
"You're looking for the lock right? Well you're not going to find it; you're body won't let you," said She, smirking.
"Impossible," I said. She turned me around, grabbed my hand, and showed me where the lock was-still I couldn't find it.
I getting hot-too hot. I was overheating.
"You're sweating!" yelled She.
Was I? I hadn't noticed.
"Here. We got to take off a few layers else you'll overheat," said She, already taking off one of my jackets. When I was down to just shirt and pants, I stopped sweating. "There, that's better."
Suddenly I was cold and I shivered. She laid down next to me, providing warmth. I wanted to tell her to get away from me, but my body wouldn't obey me. In fact it did the exact opposite-it invited her to stay next to me.
Ugh. She is right. It was clouding my judgement and making my body do stuff that I don't want to do. She started to purr(?) next to me. This is even worse than being at the vampire camps. Everything started to look like a pale tint of violet. This lavender scent was really getting to me. I better get out of here before the lavender starts to make me want to mate with She, I said to myself.
'Malhaw, I need your help! I'm in my bedroom!' I warned Malhaw
'A girl is wearing a lot of lavender and your body is betraying you?' asked Malhaw as if this happens a lot.
'Yes! Now hurry!' I yelled.
Malhaw got there surprisingly quickly and pulled She off of me. Malhaw, then, put a masked around my face-covering, mostly, my mouth and nose. Apparently it helps get the lavender out of my senses because my senses suddenly became clearer. Malhaw had the guards take She away. "Is it all out of your system?" asked Malhaw.
"I think so."
"Let wait for a few more minutes-just to make sure." True to his word, Malhaw had took the masked off of my face after a few minutes. "Better?" asked Malhaw.
"Better."
"That girl is crazy."
"Her parents are crazy also."
"Mm," said Malhaw. "Well. Let's this situation to the Council."
"Why? Tenter will get his daughter out of the dungeon somehow."
"Hmm...true," said Malhaw. "Let's figure it out over dinner." I nodded.
To put it short, we figured something out over dinner and were going to do it tomorrow.
I went to bed and fell asleep. I suddenly woke up when I was pulled out of bed. "What?" I asked, half asleep.
"Do you know what you just did?!" hissed She.
That woke me up. I was upside-down, hanging from a pole, being carried by two guards. "What's going on?" I asked. And I earned a punch to the back for asking that. I groaned.
After a very long while someone ordered, "Put him down right there." The two guards that were holding me dropped me right there. I groaned. The guards made my pole stick up on its own, so I was standing upright. The guards I knew-they were my very own guards.
"What's going on?" I demanded. That earned me a punch to to gut, from my very own guards-who looked strange.
"Hello, Burdon," said Tenter, stepping out of the shadows.
"What's going on?" I snarled. This time instead of a punch to the gut, or a hit to the back, I got knifed in the arm.
"The more you are rude, the worse it gets. I can't wait until you learned not to disobey me," said Tenter, smirking.
"Can I asked what's going on?"
"Fine if you want to know so badly, I'll tell you. I'm giving obedient lessons."
"Obedient lessons?"
"Yes. Where you learned to obey me without question, or hesitation, and once were done with that, I'll take your crystal to ensure you're cooperation."
"I'll never cooperate!" I snarled.
One of the guards were going to knife me again when Tenter raised his hand. "That what they all said, you're the last one left." Tenter.
I was so shocked. "What?"
Tenter leaned in closer until I could smell his breath. Blood. His breath reeks of blood. He has been drinking blood. "You're not only one who isn't under my control," said Tenter, smirking wickedly.
"No," I said, refusing to believe it.
"Yes, you're the only one left."
"No... no. No!" I yelled, struggling against my bonds.
"Restrain him from moving or breaking his bonds," I heard Tenter ordered the guards. The guards tightened it so much that I couldn't move, no matter what. I stopped feeling anything after a while. It was like I was detaching myself from my body.
I heard Tenter say once, "Not even your dragon could save you now."
I really didn't care if I was saved, or not, I just had to stop Tenter from winning. I would not obey Tenter no matter what. They-Tenter and his guards-must have switched me to chains, because I heard somewhere chains clanging together.
"You're stronger than most I'll give you that, but I will still break you," I heard Tenter say once. I fought Tenter as much as I could. I couldn't figure out if it had been years, months, days, or just hours since I started fighting Tenter.
'You're the last free werewolf of Anjustlia! Fight him with all you got!' I heard my Father say. He said it quite a few times actually. I always felt better, and stronger, when he did. 'Because without you we will never be free from this tyrant; you'll our only hope. Sorry if that's too much for you to bear, but you have to fight him!' Actually I think I my father would say that if he were here right now and free from Tenter's grasp. But I don't think he is. I did fight Tenter with all I got.
"Give up, you lost," I heard Tenter say once or twice. Funny how two brothers can be so different. Tenter telling me to give up, but Father would tell to keep fighting for what's right. I clung to the knowledge that my father would want me to fight for what's right and not give into this tyrant.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, what my father called 'the alpha wolf in me' actually came out and started attacking. I managed to free most of the werewolves. Before Tenter turned his tail and he fled. I freed the other werewolves. "Leave us alone! You don't belong here! We never wanted you here!" I yelled after Tenter.
My father came up to me and hugged me. "See I told you. You have a strong alpha wolf in you. Not even Tenter could squash it down-not even a little bit," whispered my Father in my ear. I smiled. My father took me to a nurse to get clean up.
While I laid down on the bed-while the healer was bandaging up my wounds-I asked my father how long we were under Tenter's rule.
"Almost a year. You were asleep as if in a coma for two months, and you fought Tenter for six months."
Six months?! How is that even possible? I silently demanded.
My father sat down beside me, his hand on my knee. "I'm sorry that you had to suffer so much for so long," actually apologized my Father.
"I'm fine."
"I guess you're lucky that your body isn't letting you feel the pain."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later, right now I got to go," said my Father, standing up and leaving.
I just shrugged my shoulders, falling asleep. When I woke I was in my own bed-the heir to the throne's bed-and I released a sigh of relief. 'Licá, you there?' I asked.
'Yes, I would never leave you even when I cannot physically see you. I will always be with you no matter what. Who do you think shield you from the pain those six months?'
'That was you?!'
'Yes. I knew I couldn't get to you-I tried when you were taken-so I decided to shield you from the pain as best as I could, since I couldn't help any other way.'
'Thank you! Thank you a million times! I would not have survive without you, or I would've been in Tenter's control by now if it wasn't for you!'
'Well. I'm pretty sure you would've survived-or remained out of Tenter's control-because you're one tough nut to crack.'
'Then we're both heroes,' I said.
'I like that. Don't let that go to your head,' teased Licá.
'I won't I promise.'
When I was well enough to get up and walk around on my own, I went to the Council Room. Everyone looked up and saw me, everyone smiled-they would've cheered but that would've been hard on everyone's ears-they told me all that has happened.
"So, what do we do now?" I asked.
"Now we go back to helping the Varden, and yes that means we're going back to the Varden," said my Father.
"Really?!"
"Yes," said my Father, nodding his head.
"Yes!"
"Now go pack your stuff and get ready to go to the Varden." I was out the door before he even finished. And I packed my stuff and we went to the Varden. Father, Malhaw, Burdenn, Ryderr, and I went back to the Varden.

-
Question(s) of the chapter:
Do the visions make sense? I'm putting them in bold. Answer in the comment section.
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