The werewolf lunged, teeth bared, aiming a wild right punch straight for James's face.
But James moved faster.
He sidestepped, grabbed the beast's wrist mid-swing, and used the werewolf's own momentum to flip him brutally onto the ground. The crash echoed across the alley. The stunned onlooker the one lowlife thug, one human gaped in disbelief.
Suddenly, James's vision dimmed as a voice echoed from his memory.
Jonathan spoke with stern look in his eyes."James, these moves I taught you will only work against someone weaker or equal in strength. You might land one on someone stronger if they don't expect it but after that, they'll catch on. If that happens, use it and run."
The flashback faded, and James blinked himself back to reality.
I know what Jonathan said is true. I could run... but I can't run with her. I'm not leaving her behind. James thought to himself.
He turned his head.
She was there, huddled against the wall, frightened, small. But her eyes met his. The moment froze.
A thought overcame James. Wow... she's pretty. He felt the heat rise in his cheeks.
Behind him, the human peasant scoffed.
"Damn, you let a kid throw you to the ground."
The werewolf groaned, rising, his pride bleeding faster than his scraped elbows.
"Arrrghhh… this bitch caught me off guard! Don't worry, kid, I'll teach you a lesson." He charged again, this time with a left punch.
James braced and caught the wrist again, same move. But this time, it failed.
"I told you, that won't work again," the werewolf growled, slamming a brutal right hook into James's face.
CRACK.
James's left forearm snapped in half under the force.
"AAARRRGHHH!" James screamed, staggering.
But he quickly slapped a hand over his mouth, cutting the sound short.
I've never felt pain like this. But… I can't look weak in front of her.
He dropped into his Aikido stance again, only this time, his broken arm dangled uselessly at his side.
The peasant human snickered. "Look at this guy… still acting tough for the girl."
The werewolf smirked. "Let's strip away that pride, boy."
Again, the beast attacked, left punch.
James caught it with his good arm, trying the same throw...
But the werewolf anticipated it. "Don't you ever learn?"
He raised his right hand and brought it down in a vicious chop across James's right arm.
Another sickening CRACK.
James screamed louder this time, both arms now shattered. He collapsed onto the cobblestones.
The werewolf grabbed James by the neck with one hand and began hammering his stomach with the other.
Blow after blow landed like sledgehammers.
James screamed. Sam covered her ears, curling tighter into a ball. She couldn't bear to watch.
"That's enough," the human said. "Don't kill him. Let's go have some real fun with her."
"I got first dibs," the werewolf snarled, dropping James like trash and turning toward Sam.
"No...!" Sam whimpered, her eyes widening as they approached.
The werewolf leaned in to grab her...
Suddenly, he screamed.
A sharp, stabbing pain shot up his leg.
He looked down.
James, barely conscious, bleeding from every orifice, had crawled to him and sunk his fangs into his Achilles tendon, biting clean through the flesh.
"Didn't I tell you," James growled through a mouth full of blood, "you're not laying a finger on her."
He ripped the tendon out with his teeth. Blood sprayed everywhere.
"AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!" the werewolf shrieked, collapsing, clutching his mangled leg.
"You damn bloodsucker!" the human roared, stomping James's head into the ground. Again and again. Cracks split the stone beneath.
"HELP!!" Sam cried, screaming with all her soul. "Someone, please help!!"
Then two shadows appeared behind the human.
He froze.
Turning slowly, he saw Jessica and Jack standing there, eyes burning with fury.
Jack clenched a fist, ready to strike but Jessica raised a hand, stopping him.
She stepped forward.
"Take your friend," she said coldly, "and leave. Or die."
The human didn't hesitate. Trembling, he grabbed the crippled werewolf and bolted.
Jack scowled. "Why'd you stop me?"
"You were going to kill him," Jessica said. "Do you want your sister to see that side of you?"
Jack's fists loosened. "Thanks…"
Jessica rushed to Sam.
"You okay?"
Sam didn't answer. She ran straight to James, cradling his ruined face in her lap.
"My prince… don't die," she whispered.
So… her name is Sam… "I'm… okay, Sam…"
Blood bubbled from his lips.
Jack and Jessica both blinked.
She's touching a guy… but his face looks like a pufferfish. Can't even tell what race he is. Thought as Jack stared at the pufferfish.
Jessica had the same thought.
James passed out.
"Nooo… my prince!!" Sam wailed, hugging his limp body.
"I know some first aid," Jessica said. "Let me help."
She patched him up as best she could, bandaging his arms, tying them to his neck for support, cleaning the blood off his face.
"Where'd you even get the bandages?" Jack asked.
Jessica smirked. "It's the slums. Always be prepared."
James stirred, blinking.
"Hey… Sam."
"My prince is awake!" she squealed, hugging him again.
Even Jack and Jessica smiled.
Later, as evening settled in, James stood up groggily.
"I gotta go. My friend's probably looking for me."
"Wait!" Sam said. "Will I ever see you again… my prince?"
James turned back, smiling faintly.
"I'm free next Saturday."
Jack stepped in. "Double date. Witches' Den. 8 a.m."
"See you then," James said, walking off into the dusk.
As the trio walked home, Jack teased, "Oh, my prince, when shall I see thee again?"
Jessica joined in. "My princess, I am free next Saturday~"
Sam pouted, blushing furiously. Then she slipped between them and took both their hands.
She's not afraid of me anymore...
Jessica saw his smile and smiled herself.
Sam thought. So this is what happiness feels like. I wish it could stay forever…
Elsewhere, Joshua set down a crate, panting.
"Where the hell is that kid…?"
Then he saw James walking toward him, bandaged head to toe.
"Where were you? I've been looking for you for hours and why do you look like a mummy!?"
James grinned. "Had a fun day. Got a date with a pretty werewolf girl next Saturday."
Joshua scowled. "You mean while I was busting my ass, you were picking up girls?"
"No. I saved her. She called me her prince." James blushed.
"Whatever, shrimp. Let's get home so someone can patch you up properly."
Back at the noble house, night had fallen. As they walked the corridor, they spotted Tiffany coming from the other direction.
"Hey, Joshua," she said softly, cheeks pink.
"Hey, Tiffany," Joshua answered, equally flushed.
James rolled his eyes. "Can either of you see I'm injured?"
"Oh, right," Tiffany said, stepping forward and placing her glowing hands over James's wounds. Her eyes locked with Joshua's as the light flowed.
"Your face is healed, take off the bandages. But your arms will need a week. Bone's tricky," she murmured, never breaking eye contact with Joshua.
"Bye, Joshua," she said, biting her lip as she walked away.
Joshua stood still for a moment… then quickly turned to hide the growing problem in his pants.
James stared. "You two are so weird. I could've been dying."
But Joshua was already walking off. "Yeah, yeah. See ya."
When he got to his room, he found Merlin waiting.
She wasn't smiling.
"Joshua. Why are you leading Tiffany on?"
He froze. "I… what?"
"I'm not stupid," she said. "Do you want another Amy situation?"
"No! I... I think I like Tiffany, but I'm not sure…"
"So you don't like Blanchette anymore?"
"I do. I love her with all my heart."
Merlin's expression turned hard. "Then stop dragging Tiffany into your mess. Grow up. You're not a kid anymore."
She stormed out, slamming the door.
Joshua sat alone on the bed, changed into pajamas, and lay back, staring at the ceiling.
"She's right," he muttered. "But why do I get those feelings… when I'm around Tiffany?"
Sleep slowly took him, but his heart remained restless.