The crowd still cheers as the guard urges me forward. As I glance to the side I see one of the commoners kick Baba’s head around as his lifeless body is dragged away. I am powerless to do anything about it.

As I reach the executioner’s block, Ubukili raises his hand, and where there was once pandemonium, a silence like no other washes over the crowd.

“May you never find favour with the Gods, traitorous bastard,” he says. “Bring me his head,” he says, and gestures toward the Executioner. Loud chants now brew from the crowd as I am placed on the block. Baba’s blood is still warm where it sprayed from his body.

My hands bound behind my back, I no longer feel the abrasion caused by the chains. I am on my knees as I await my execution. I think of father, the way he used to sing to me when I was little. The thought comforts me, drowns out the sound of the crowd calling for my head. There is a cool breeze in the air, blowing against my pale skin; it almost feels serene. As if I welcome death with open arms.

The sound of the Executioner’s footsteps does not frighten me, the grunt as he lifts his sword does not affect me. I close my eyes and imagine that I am in the meadow, the sunflowers bathing me in their buttery colours. I am at peace; may the Gods welcome me with open arms.

I hear a grunt, a groan, and gasps from the crowd. I open my eyes and find the Executioner flat on his face, his blade lying next to him and Mahua standing over him. I almost feel relieved to see him, but I fear for his life. What will Ubukili do to him for this betrayal?

Ubukili is on him within a matter of seconds, his hand tightly gripped around Mahua’s throat.

“You fool,” he roars, no mercy in his eyes. “You think I will not kill you for saving this pathetic scum?”

“Ubukili, leave him. He is but a boy still beset with innocence. He does not know what he was doing,” I say, my voice barely audible, hoarse with emotion.

“How will he learn?” Ubukili has no forgiveness in his eyes. His hand moves to his belt. His fingers tighten around his knife as he pulls it from its sheath. Mercilessly, he slits his brother’s throat.

Mother’s chilling screams fill the air, before she collapses. My anger no longer simmers, it flares like an unquenchable fire. I feel the rage build up, my muscles are taut, a low growl escapes my throat. I feel my body contort and where I once had pale skin, I now see hair. As my transformation completes, I find myself standing taller than Ubukili.

A werewolf, white as snow and eyes as red as hot coal!

For an instant Ubukili stares in awe at the magical beast that stands before him, but he quickly morphs into a beast himself. He knows he does not stand a chance in human form.

I strike before he achieves full transformation, clawing at his face, steaks of blood now on my white fur. He does not howl, but only attacks back. He tackles me and we fly off the dais into the crowd. They disperse like flies being frightened by an impatient hand.

We thump to the ground and the ground cracks beneath us. I feel his claw around my throat, but manage to raise one of mine and scratch his eye out. He howls and clutches his eye; I go for the kill. But an arrow catches me in the leg. I howl as I try to remove it. Ubukili is on me yet again.

The pain in my leg dulls my senses, but I can still fight, even if it is an unfair fight. My brother is a coward, he has always been a coward, and the people see that now.

Another arrow bolts my way, but I manage to dodge it and tackle Ubukili in the process. He lands on his paws with his face against the ground. I leap on his back; my weight nearly crushes his body. “Tell them,” I growl. “Tell them what you did!”

Ubukili slowly loses his werewolf form and I am now sitting atop his human self. One downward shove and I could shatter his entire skeleton.

“I did it!” he yells out. The crowd inches closer.

“Louder,” I growl.

“I did it. I poisoned my father and blamed my brother for it.”

The crowd gasps in chorus and glares angrily at my brother. The truth has come to light and I no longer have to defend my name and reputation. I feel a wave of relief wash over me.

The only question is – what will I do to Ubukili now that the truth is out?

I will give the people the justice they so dearly wanted, even though it was blind loyalty they showed the false king who murdered his own father. I crush both his legs to prevent him from turning yet again, and throw him into the crowd. I do not dare turn to look at him as they drag him away.

I make my way to where Mahua now lies. I cradle his little body in my arms the same way I did with my father’s. I have truly lost everything I hold dear to me. What good is the gift the Gods bestowed on my family if I could not protect those I love?

I gently place his body next to my mother’s and make my way out of the courtyard. This is not the place for me. No throne can replace what I have lost. My place is in the woods, away from a society where people can so blindly turn on each other. I let out a final howl before my gait turns into a sprint.

I am the white wolf, I am the Ghost of Delardo.

*****

Tell us: How did you like this twist at the very end? What did you think of this story?