Margret paced back in forth in his little cabin home, trying to think of plan on how she could get out of Massachusetts without being seen. It wasn’t safe for her, Maria, and Beth anymore. Rumors were already flying around for them and Juan and his men would be after them soon. She can feel it in her bones.

                Maria got up from the rocking chair, “Margret, we cannot stay here much longer!” she yelled, her Spanish accent strong even though she moved here very young. Nineteen and strong minded and independent, which was one of the things that made her stand out to the village.  “Let us just pack little thing and make our way to the ship. I cannot stay here another moment.”

                “Calm.”, Margret said. She was the oldest of them, twenty three. She was unmarried and to the village, crazy. She was never married, no children, and just talking to the men in the village cause her much danger. Much really, it’s because of the rumors of her affections towards other women. It was a sin against God to like the same gender, after all.

                She looked at Elizabeth—Beth, for short. The feisty sixteen years old, braiding a strand of her blonde hair. What made her stand out was not being a virgin. The girl lost her virginity at fifteen and been branded as a whore.

                All of them had one thing in common and what they village rumors about them are true. Witches. Yes, they were the children of the devil and can turn into black cats and ride broom sticks.

                Margret rolled her eyes, How the people here are too naïve and stupid. All they could do was cast spells and even they take time.

                “Calm?” Maria repeated. “We have officers coming for us, I can feel it. Can you not?”

                “I can.”, Margret said. “We can’t go without a plan. One minute we’re safe and the next, we’re captured.”

                Beth was sitting on the floor smile, “Should be easy to catch a ride if we get to town. Men there are so easily easy to fool. One touch and they’ll bewitched.” she said, snapping her fingers.

                “No, Beth.” Margret said and she frowned. “Nothing to make us stand out.” she said. She sat down as Beth wen to make them something to drink. As Margret thought, it all finally began to come together. “At midnight,” she said. “We’ll sneak into the forest and make our way to the coast. Beth can do a little flirting with a cart driver—no seducing and no stop, though.” she eyed Beth.

                She pouted, “What if he’s handsome?”

                “Control your needs.” Margret said. “We’ll catch a ship to New Jersey and make our way to Pennsylvania, then Virginia. I have cousins there that would take us in.”

                “Good.”, Maria said, tying her dark hair up. “I’ll begin to pack.”

                “Like you said little things.” Margret said. “Don’t need things slowing us down.”.

                Beth walked over to her, giving her a cup of warm tea. “What can I do, Margret?”, she asked.

                “Nothing right now, my dear.”, she said. “Just go home and come back right after dark. You understand, don’t do anything stupid. Stay away from Henry.”.

                She pouted, “But—but,”

                “No, Beth, stay away. Cannot do anything more to ruin our chances. Understood?”, she asked.

                “Can I at least say goodbye?”, she asked.

                “No. Not even a letter.”, she said and tears appeared in Beth’s eyes. “Beth, I know you may possibly love him, but this is our lives. You will find a new boy.”, she said, turning away from Beth. She felt bad for having to break her heart, but she can’t risk it.

                “Okay, Margret.”, she said and Margret heard her leave.

                Margret sighed, siting down in the rocking chair. How hard this life is, she knew this life style wasn’t going to be easy. She never wanted to become a witch, but when she felt the magic, how it ran threw her, she became addicted to it at only thirteen.

                Now these trials are going on and she has seen what happen to witches like herself. She won’t let it happen. She won’t let Juan Russo find her or her girls.

                +

                Margret was rubbing her thumb and index finger against the blue protection stone. She braid to the Goddess she’ll protect them. Margret has long been away from Catholic even though she made people believe her.

                The door opened and Maria came on with a small bag, “I am so glad I have no husband or children.”, she said. “I just hope my father does not come looking for me when he realizes I’m gone. He hates me so much, but that bitter drunk would come after me with a knife, probably think I’m with some man.”, she snort. “The men here are like Juan Russo, beastly arrogant puerco. He brings shame to his family.”.

                Margret chuckled, “So handsome, but so devilish inside. He’s the real monster in this state.”.

                “Si.”, she said. She looked around, “Where is Beth?”.

                Margret rolled her eyes, “You know the girl. Pretty little thing, but so ditzy and probably fell asleep. I’m sure she’ll wake up and come soon. We still have some time.”.

                “She better.”, Maria said.

                When the next three hours passed, Margret was a little worried. She got up from the rocking chair and went over to her window, her red curly hair breezing back. “Where are you, Beth?”, she asked herself…

                Minutes passed as she stared out the window. She then heard noises come from the woods and that’s when Beth ran out, her long white dress dirty at the end and her pale blonde hair flying behind her as she ran. She looked scared.

                Margret jumped and ran towards the door, “Beth?”.

                “Margret!”, she said when she got the door. “We—we—we—“, she said while breathing hard.

                “Spit it out, child.”, Margret said.

                “We have to leave, now!”, she said and that when Margret heard the sound of horse and she looked out into the woods and saw flickering of light.

                “What did you do!?”, Margret yelled.

                “I’m sorry!”, Beth said. “I had to see him, Margret, I had to at least say goodbye.”.

                “What did you tell him?”, she asked.

                “Nothing but I was leaving and could never see him again!”, she said. “He then began asking me if the rumor of being a witch was true and you know I’m a bad liar. When I went home to pack, that’s when I saw officers coming. We have to leave now!”.

                “You stupid child!”, Margret said and she looked to see officers coming out of the woods. She gasped, her blood turning cold. “Back door, we’ll go to the barn.”, she said, pushing them to the back door. When Maria and Beth ran out, she grabbed the lantern and smashed it ground, casting a spell for it to grow and hide them.

                She then turned and ran when the fire quickly grew. She dashed into the woods, catching up Maria and Beth. She heard the officer yelling over threw the fire and when she turned her head around, she didn’t see them yet.

                After a few minutes, they finally made it to a barn a farmer had. They looked around for somewhere to hide, but it was no use.

                “What are we going to do, Margret?”, Beth asked.

                “Shush!”, Margret hissed. She heard the sound of horses running again and she began to panic. “In the horses stall, stay quite!”.

                Each of them went into a stall and hid. Beth went behind the black horse and it began to go insane. Margret began to pet it, singing a spell to it quickly. Soon, the horse began to stop and it stays still.

                That when the stall doors burst open and Margret jump, staying quite. She whispered so quickly, she barley heard herself praying for them to catch them.

                “Please, my Goddess, help us.”, she said. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears and she was so cold, even though it was pretty warm out. She clutched her dress tightly, herself so nervous. She didn’t want her life to end just because of Beth’s stupid mistake! Why does the girl never listen?, she asked herself.

                ‘Aaah!’, Beth’s loud scream pained her ears. “Let go of me! No! No! Take your dirty hands off me—ahh!”, she screamed when Margret heard the impact of the officer her impact with Beth’s face.

                “Dirty demon.”, the officer said.

                “Ahh! I found another one.”, said another officer. “Pretty one, shameful.”.

                “Ir al infierno!”, Maria hissed. “Do not touch me!”, she said and if Margret had to get, she spit on him from the sounds she made.

                “Ugh! Nasty bitch!”, the officer said . “Tie her hands and mouth up!”.

                Margret crawled back when she heard the footsteps coming near the stall she was. The door opened and she looked up to become eyes contacted with the office of her village. He’s gotten so sick.

                “I have been waiting for this for a long time.”, he said.

                “Nice to see you, too, father.”, she said. “The years have been good.”.

                “Well you would have seen me age like this if you were not hiding in that cabin of yours.”, he said. “I’m really disappointed in you, Margret. Turning to the devil.”.

                “At least the devil loves me more then you.”, she said just to irk him.

                Her father shook his head, “Grab her and tie her up. Tightly.”.

                +

                After another one of his hit, Margret head was slapped to the right and she spit out blood. She turned back and looked up at Juan Russo. He was big in capturing witches and she hated him. He came from a good family, a rich one of course. He was tall and muscular as most of the Russo’s were. Twenty eight and had a good wife, but like to go against God himself by committing adultery. Handsome, he was very handsome. Even was a facial mask, only made him look older and edgy looking.

                That did nothing to her.

                “I have committed no crimes.”, she said again. Maria and Beth were on each side of her, breathing hard from his beating. Margret herself was tired. He liked to beat witch, she heard. Make them suffer before they die. He was heartless.

                “You planned to run away.”, he said. “I heard the records of all three of you. Unmarried,”, he said, pointing at Maria, “a betrayal to nature,”, he said, pointing at Margret, “and a whore.”.

                “And that makes up witches?”, Margret asked. “What does it make you for what you have done in your whole life? You have committed way more sin of going against the Ten Commandments then we have ever. It’s because we’re woman, isn’t it?”.

                He chuckled once before glaring, “It’s because of your worship to the devil himself.”, he said, grabbing her chin and made her look at him. “I can see him in your eyes.”.

                “I can see a monsters in your!”, she hissed. “You call yourself a man, your nothing but a vermin! You put fear in people to make them scared of you! You have your men put their lives in danger and capture people you accuse and then you beat them. You’re weak.”.

                He slapped her again, harder. “Shut up, you bitch.”.

                “Your unholy!”, she yelled and when she waited for another hit, smack, kick, anything, she was surprised to hear Beth scream in pain.

                She looked and saw he had punched her.

                “Stop looking at me!”, he yelled. “I heard of your bewitching power, seducing men, and ruining their lives.”.

                “I haven’t done anything!”, she said.

                “Beth, shut up!”, Margret said, not wanting to girl to give them away.

                “No point.”, Juan said. “You all going to die. Straight to hell.”.

                “I guess I’ll be seeing you there.”, Margret said. “I’ll make sure to tell him hello.”.

                “Wrong.”, he said. “I’ll be going to haven, to God’s kingdom and be graced by him for saving lives from your kind.”.

                “I can change that.”, Maria said, grinning.

                “Maria!”, Margret hissed.

                “Oh yes!”, Juan said, going to her side. “Tell me how you plan to do that, Maria. Tell me the spell and maybe I can help save me life.”, he sarcastically said.

                She breathed hard as she looked at him in the eye, “I might just change you into a monster.”.

                He chuckled, “You can do anything to me, I’m invincible.”.

                “You think you are.”, she said.

                He grabbed her by the throat and slammed her down on the floor.

                “MARIA!’, both Margret and Beth cried out.

                “You’ll be the first to go.”, he said.

                “We still have a trail to go through!”, Margret yelled.

                He let go of Maria and got up, “No you don’t.”, he said and she looked up at him confused. “We had many witnesses tell the court about you three. Judge ordered you three to hang.”.

                “What!”, Margret screamed. “No! That is unfair!”.

                “Life is unfair.”, he said.

                Margret knew she couldn’t let him get away with that. Maria was right, they just have to make him…a monster.

                He continued beating them just to torture them.  Margret was tired by the end, but he was still close enough to her on the last kick.

                She forced herself near his neck and bit him. He screamed, but her teeth stayed in his skin. She needs to get enough of his blood. She felt the warm liquid rush down her chin and before he could push her away, she ranked her fingers threw his hair and ripped some of his hair out.

                She felt hand from behind pull her away and she was pushed back against the floor. She breathed out in tired, her body in pain already. She stared up at the ceiling as Juan cursed and called her stuff, but Margret was too exhausted to do anything was lay there.

                The men that had to drag Juan out there, left the three of the beaten witches there.

                She wanted water so bad. The taste of blood in her mouth made her shiver and all she wanted to do was throw up. But she forced herself to sit up.

                “Beth.”, she said, shaking Beth and she moan painfully. “Maria. Get up, you both. We need to finish.”, she said.

                Maria coughed up more blood, “More what?”, she asked, pushing herself up. “What is there to finish, Margret? I wish he just kill us now.”.

                “Don’t say that.”, she said. “Come on, help me finish what you started. We need revenge and I will not die without getting revenge.”, she said.

                “What are you planning, Margret”, Beth asked. “I’m to weak to do anything.”.

                “I know, but you have to help me.”, she said. “We need…”, she breathed, trying to stop her head from feeling like it would come off. “We need…we got to make him into a monster. But not only that, his family. We need to curse him, his children, and his grandchild and the grandchild after that. Forever.”, she said, whipping her hand over her mouth to put blood on it and smeared it over there hand, mixed with his hair. “Help me, please.”, she said.

                “I-I don’t know, Margret.”, Maria said.

                “Look at what he did to us!”, she said. “You cannot tell me you’re not angry.”.

                “Of course I am.”, she said.

                “So am I.”, Beth said.

                “Then help me.”, she said. “Make him pay, make sure he never get through the gates of ‘God’.”, she said. “He doesn’t belong there. We can’t let his children become what he is, either. No more Juan Russo’s.”.

                “What are you planning to do?”, Maria asked. “What kind of spell?”.

                “Make him into something he’ll have to run away.”, she said. “Something he’ll have to make himself even fake his own death. A monster. What can lurk around and kill?”.

                “I-I don’t know.”, Beth said. “A bear?”.

                “A big dog?”, Maria tired.

                An idea popped in her head, “Or better. A wolf.”, she grinned. “He’ll have to change into a wolf without his will. The others, they can change willingly, but they’ll be stuck with this curse to. With nothing to save them.”.

                “What do you think the side effects with be?”, she asked.

                Margret shrugged, not caring. “I don’t care, but let’s do it now before they come back.”, she said, taking their hands and they formed a circle. The spell took the next few days to cast, only stopping to rest, but when the breeze picked up and she heard Juan’s agonizing pain inside her head from the change his soul from human to a wolf, she smiled, knowing it work and when the two other did, she was please. She would die, knowing she got back. “Next full moon, he would change into a monster.”.

                The two smile back.

                No heaven for Juan, he’s a creature of magic now.

                +

                After Margret yelled at a warning to Juan, she watched him glare at her. They both glared at each with hate. She turned both ways to look at Maria and Beth. “Be strong.”, she told them. “See you where ever we may go.”.

                When the floor board below her dropped and she did, it was nothing like she ever felt before. Soon, she faded into blackness and never woke up.

                +

                Seventeen days later…

                Juan leaned against his desk, trying to control his thought. The witches words kept running threw his thought. He knows he shouldn’t believe her, but it couldn’t stop running through his damn thoughts!

                “Damnit!”, he yelled as he threw the bottle of wine. He didn’t help him, he needed to drink a lot of it now to feel numb.

                He left his house and looked up at the moon. It was almost midnight and Juan laughed.

                “Where’s your curse now!”, he yelled. He closed his eyes and twirled around, only really half drunk, but he was please he didn’t turn into a ‘monster’ like the witch had said. He was no monster, he was God himself. He saved many people from witches.

                He was simply amazing.

                A moment later, something felt like it hit his heart. He bent over, holding where his heart is over his shirt and groaned. It felt like something had shot him.

                He shook his head when the pain left and straighten up. Enough drinking for you tonight, Juan, he said to himself.

                Then out of nowhere, it felt like someone pushed himself to the ground and his whole body felt like it was struck on fire. He breathed roughly, his eyes burning also and he squeezed them shut, clawing at them.

                “Juan?”, his wife inside called to him.

                He looked over at his and his wife had no yet found him. He didn’t know what was happening, but he looked towards the woods and made himself run into the wood.

                As he ran further, his whole body never felt like how it did. He felt like he was being stab and punched over and over again. He felt falling onto the dirt, but he always pushed himself up and ran, but he would only fall again.

                His teeth began to feel like they were being pulled. After minutes of running, he was to weak to go on and he fell to the floor, panting.

                The pain of being shot hit him again, over and over. He yelled in pain, but it started to sound like a howl.

                He pressed himself up and he heard the sounds of cloths tearing. He looked down at himself and saw his arms and legs turning fury and looked like they grow! His legs bent a little and before he knew it, all his cloths torn off.

                And the pain stopped.

                Thank you God for stopping it, he thought then he was confused, swearing he meant to stay it out loud.

                He reached his hand up to rub his forehead, but he didn’t feel his forehead. He felt something else.

                He panics, looking down at himself to see fur everywhere! And he saw a tail!

                Something in him made him move, he didn’t feel like he was controlling himself. He threw his head back and howled loudly, crying on the inside. The witches did it, they cursed him.

                He cursed the generations to come and he turned into this…monsters. He changed into a wolf. He heard of this world before.

                Werewolf.