Chapter 104: The Transformation

HELENA My face went pale. I hadn't planned to say anything just yet, but then again. If I wasn't pushed, I might just disappear from everyone. 'Okay." I agreed and got up. Just like he said, everyone was gathered outside my office, all bearing melancholic expressions. My voice caught in my throat. 'I just want to say a few words before I head out." I paused, watching their faces. I spotted Georgina in the crowd, and she urged me to continue. 'Working with all of you has been one hell of a rollercoaster. Your dedication, hard work, and camaraderie have made every day here enjoyable and rewarding. Despite our ups and downs, we're still a family, and I appreciate that. I've learned so much from each of you, and I'm truly grateful for the time we've spent together." My words were met with applause and a few teary-eyed nods. 'We're going to miss you so much, Helena," Tom said, smiling lightly. 'You've been an incredible leader and friend. I wish you'd told us earlier." I felt a pang of guilt at his words. I could feel that sting behind my eyes, and blinked tightly. 'Thank you, Tom. I'll miss everyone too. But remember, this isn't goodbye—it's just a new beginning. I hope our paths cross again in the future." He nodded, and I embraced everyone else. 'I can't believe no more hot chocolate for you." Georgina said, her tone a little more serious than I expected. She broke into a smile, hugging me tightly. 'You can always tell me the recipe." I whispered. She nudged me. 'No, I'll just give you some for the road." I giggled. 'Alright then." I left the bank, feeling a bit happier. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as I thought. The drive home felt unusually quiet, the city's usual hustle and bustle fading into the background as I reflected on the day. When I finally walked into the driveway, my heart quickened with anticipation. *********** 'We're going to do this tonight, after dinner," Luna said, her voice steady. I nodded, trying to ignore the wave of anxiety that rolled through my veins. I didn't want to think about it at all. What if something went wrong? What if the spell backfired? What do I do? I couldn't think about it. I didn't want to. I would just go along with it and hope for the best. It was our only shot. Then again, I could just stay back, but I had already taken my leap of faith. Dinner passed in a blur. I barely tasted the food in front of her, despite the fact that it was werewolf food. My mind was too occupied with the spell…with the idea of transforming into a werewolf. Something I wasn't. Even though I had never been to Lunaville, I could already tell it was a mad dangerous place. I couldn't mess up. 'Relax. You'll be fine." Aaron placed his hand over mine, reassuring me. My heart skipped a beat with his touch, and I Ieaned into his arms. 'Thank you." I remained in his embrace, and Luna just watched the both of us in silence. Her eyes spoke emotions, from pride to contentment. After dinner, I followed Aaron and Luna into the living room. The space felt different now, the air heavy with anticipation. 'Are you ready?" Luna asked, setting the papers she was supposed to use for the chants. I nodded slowly. 'Yeah. Let's do this." Aaron moved towards the center of the room, and pulled aside the coffee table. Next, he carefully took off the carpet. He lit the candles that Luna had set out earlier, arranging them in a large circle. The small flames of the candles flickered in the dim light. I took a deep breath, and tried to steady my breath, but it felt like my heart was racing out of control. 'Helena, remember, you have to stay calm. Step inside the circle." Luna said gently. I felt a jolt of fear, realizing what she meant. I had to force myself to move, to step into the circle of candles. Luna motioned for me to sit down, and I did. The air felt thick, almost suffocating, as Luna began to chant the spell. Aaron stared at me from outside the circle, his eyes filled with emotion. I shut my eyes and tried to focus on Luna's voice, on the rise and fall of the ancient words. But all that came to my mind was what was about to happen to me, what I was about to become. The thought of losing myself, even for a fleeting second, made my chest tighten with panic. I forced my lungs to breathe, to suck in air as slowly and efficiently as possible, to trust in Luna and the spell. This was our only chance. If we could pull this off, I could go to Lunaville with them, and help him navigate whatever awaited us in Lunaville. Afraid? I was probably afraid. But fear never got you anywhere, so why should I be? The smoke from the cauldron began to swirl, captivating my thoughts. A strange, tingling sensation spread throughout my body. It was as if the air itself was pressing down on me. The room seemed to spin, and Aaron and Luna's voices faded into the background as the spell took hold. It wasn't painful, exactly, but it was disorienting, like I was being pulled in a thousand different directions at once. It reminded me of something I had read in The Souls Trilogy. I could feel my bones shifting, my muscles stretching, and my skin prickling as fur began to sprout. The sensation was overwhelming, and for a moment, she thought I was going into the light. Of course, that was unlikely. But then it was over. The heat faded, the tingling subsided, and I opened my eyes, blinking slightly. I felt different—smaller, more compact—but also stronger, like there was a new energy coursing through my veins. Did it work? I tried to say, but the words refused to come as easily to my lips. I looked down and saw paws where my hands had been, sleek and covered in silver fur. Damn. The spell worked. I was transformed into a wolf. I took a cautious step forward, testing the limits of my new body. The sensation was strange but not entirely unfamiliar. It was as if a part of me had always known how to move like this, how to balance on four legs instead of two. Probably because this is how this body was meant to operate. I turned my head to look at Aaron, and found him already staring at me. His eyes flickered from disbelief to relief, and awe. Was a I pretty wolf? 'Helena? Is that really you?" he asked, his voice soft. I couldn't speak, so I nodded. The motion felt awkward, but not impossible. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he touched my fur. His touch was pleasant, grounding, a reminder that I was still myself, even if I didn't look like it. Luna stepped closer, her eyes filled with a kind of cautious optimism. 'It worked," she said. 'You're… you're a wolf, Helena. The spell worked." No kidding. I let out a soft bark, and paused. That was…natural. I looked back at Aaron and Luna, their faces a mix of relief and determination. We had done it. The first step toward getting into Lunaville had been surpassed, and now, we stood a chance. I walked, on my four legs, towards the mirror in the dining area and gasped. I was one pretty wolf. My eyes were still brown and slightly bigger, and my fur, with a silvery shine, was beautiful. It still felt surreal. This was just the beginning. The spell might have given me the appearance of a wolf, but it couldn't change who I really was, a human in a world where that could mean life or death. I would have to be careful, more careful than I'd ever been, to keep up the illusion.