Vylt: The New Dawn

Chapter 25: A Hairy Situation

We started after lunch. I was led to Dr. Blake's office, where they had everything set up for the video call. None of us expected a miracle, but if I could somehow calm, or at least distract, Connor enough for him to listen, it would greatly help Lucy with her task. I was nervous, yet not afraid. He was like me, someone who had changed enough to be considered a monster. In a sense, I was somewhat eager to talk with him.

The call initiated, but Connor wasn't on. The screen announced that there was only one participant in it. It didn't take long for us to receive the news that Lucy's words had become reality. The werewolf was so furious after being sedated for the third time, that he had thrown his nightstand at the equipment the moment he woke up, ruining our plan completely. Ironically, this behaviour ended up with them knocking him out and restraining him again. That couldn't be healthy.

We were back to square one. Alex had taken the chance to take a nap while they thought of something else. He hadn't been able to sleep properly due to waking up so early. I hoped he would make it to our night session. Fortunately, Lucy was so busy with this matter that she had completely forgotten about the magic demonstration we were supposed to hold.

Sylvia's morning sickness wasn't as bad as yesterday, but it was still enough that she stayed in her room. Although she tried hiding it when I visited her, it was clearly ruining her mood. It made me wonder if demons simply had it worse with pregnancies. Hopefully not. With some luck, it was simply a side effect from the virus being at work. It didn't solve Sylvia's situation, though.

After my visit ended, I spent some time reading in my room. There were no new threads of importance. The Culling had taken over the minds of many. Narration of old legends and conspiracy theories regarding fantastic beings were completely replaced by homemade armour tutorials to survive infected animal attacks, quarantine life hacks and, funny enough, conspiracy theories about the virus being created by the government or a tactic to control the population. I would've considered it nonsense if it weren't for the fact that the virus was really man made. If Alex and Anna were right, it was also being used for their benefits.

Night fell, and I was done getting ready for my magic lesson. I still had a few minutes before I needed to go down. Sitting at my table, my eyes drifted to the window.

I didn't get to practise today.

The urge to jump and fly out of my room made its presence again. This time, it was harder to resist, probably due to the lack of exercise. Whatever the reason was, I suddenly found myself opening the window and staring into the forest. I looked down and backed away. It was high enough for my acrophobia to trigger. Despite it being just slightly higher than what Allison normally lifted me, the lack of her grip on my body or a lake below me made it scarier. It didn't feel safe.

I walked back to the window with the intention of closing it. The next moment, I was outside, flying. Despite the immediate panic, my wings kept me stable. The fear soon became excitement. I loved the feeling of soaring above the trees, watching the stars above me and the wildlife below. The night made it so much better than the last time. It was a completely different experience.

The euphoria lasted for a few minutes, fading as my wings began to tire. I could think clearly then. As much as I enjoyed the flight session, it was concerning that I lost control of myself with such ease. It was something I needed to consult with Lucy. Hopefully, she would know how to help.

Flying back to the building, I saw that everyone was already waiting for me at the terrace. Though Lucy was absent, as expected. Anna was the first one to notice me. She heard the flapping of my wings as I got closer, so she turned to look my way. I could tell that she hadn't located me yet. Her lack of nocturnal vision and the lighting of the terrace were responsible for that. Alex, on the other hand, reacted to her movement and took no time in spotting me, waving at me after he did. By the time I reached them, everyone was aware of my presence.