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| Livonna finally stopped howling and just lay down, feeling how the raindrops were flow down her wool. She had no idea, where to go or even what to do. So long she was a loyal servant to Dame Athanasia, but now she was free once again, and she had no idea what to do with this freedom. All alone, not need to anyone, betrayed and broken - a lone wolf, but not proud and independent, as they almost always were shown in the old books. She sighed. Long time ago she wasn't Dame Athanasia's lap dog. She was a monster that was hunting in the night. But she wasn't born as a werewolf... |
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When Livonna was telling her past to Falaen, she didn't lying. Almost. Of course, she didn't tell him many things about herself, but the main part was true - she was raised in a family from a lower-class, so she never had any chance to get a proper education. But she always loved studying even while she had almost no time and money for that. When she grew up she had no choice but to find any job, so she left her ancestral home and moved to a nearby town, where she became a waitress in a tavern. Almost all the money she was earning again and again went towards food and rent, but she always tried to by a new book, when she had a chance. And one day she spent her money to a book instead from paying her rent in time, hoping that her landlord won't notice that before the weekend, when she was sure she will be able to pay. At the next morning Livonna was preparing to go to work, when the door of her cheep flat suddenly swung open with a loud crash, and a tall robust man appeared at the threshold. "Livonna Grau! Where are you planning to go, I wonder?" he shouted. "Did you forgot, what a day was yesterday? If so, I'll be happy to remind you!" he struck a thick leather strap over his palm. Livonna gulped nervously. "Oh, master Codogno! Good day!" she curtsy. "No, I didn't forget anything! I just was short on money, so I hoped, that you will give me a little delay. Just three or four days more, and I will pay you for my flat." Codogno frowned. "I don't need your stupid excuses! I need my money. And I warned you several times - if you need some delay, warn me in good time! I have every right to throw you out right now!" Livonna looked at him pleadingly. "Please, no, master Codogno! I will pay you right at this weekend! I swear!" Codogno shook his head and took Livonna by her arm. "You'll pay me right here and now, or you can start looking for a new flat immediately!" he dragged her to the door. "Please, I am sorry! I will pay you, I promise! I just don't have enough money right now! But I will pay you as soon as I'll have! I promise!" Codogno dragged the girl out from the flat and stopped, frowning. "Well, maybe I can give you a little delay." Livonna sighed in relief. But before she could say anything, Codongo continued: "I will pay me this evening, or I will throw you out. And I don't care, if you have nowhere to go, wench! And right now I'll give you some stimulus not to forget our deal!" he lifted her skirt and raised the strap. Codongo had a very heavy hand. Livonna was jumping and hopping in place at each stroke of the strap across her bare buttocks, bawling and screaming in pain and desperation. She wanted to run away, but she knew very well, that in this case Codongo surely will just throw all her things out from the flat like a garbage. "And this will be an example for all of my tenants - if any of you will overdue rent or will try to cheat on it, I will show you no mercy." every his word was followed by a heavy stroke of the strap, making poor Livonna scream and weep in pain. When Codongo finally stopped, she continued jumping and hopping in place, just like she was dancing a kind of war dance, for a few more minutes, rubbing her terrible sore bottom. "Ow! Ow! Ow! I am sorry, master Codongo! I will pay you this evening! I promise! I swear! Ow! My poor bottom! Boohoo!!!!" Livonna wept bitterly. Codongo nodded, still frowning. "And if you won't pay the rent this evening, I'll give you another walloping and throw you out! Is that clear?" "Crystal clear... Ouch!" Livonna finally stopped her dance of pain and lowered her skirt, still rubbing her bottom. Codongo nodded and walked away, leaving tearful girl alone. |
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With a very sore bottom under her skirt and restless restless thoughts in her head Livonna had difficulty remembering customers' orders. Usually she had no troubles with them and was always getting a good tips, but this day she was lucky, that no one wanted to complain. And the worst thing was the fact, that she had almost no chance to get the money she was need so much before the evening. She was almost desperate, but suddenly she got an idea. A new customer, Reginald Front-de-Bœuf, baron of Finsterwood, ordered "Shadowbanish" one of the most expensive wine the tavern ever got. Livonna went to the wine cellar and pour some wine from a barrel with the wine the baron ordered and some wine from a barrel with one of the most cheap wine in the tavern. She sniffed and tasted from both portions and shrugged. "I don't seen almost any difference... Maybe the baron also won't notice, if I'll replace the wine he wants with this cheap wine? And then I'll finally get the money I need!" she thought, feeling the jug with the cheap wine. Livonna put the order in front of the baron and moved to the next customers. Time to time she sneaked a peek at Front-de-Bœuf, but he was just enjoying his meal. The sneaky waitress was almost sure, that her little mischief managed well, but suddenly the baron called for her. "Excuse me, girl, but what is this?" he asked in annoyed voice, pointing at his goblet. "'Shadowbanish', milord," Livonna curtsy. "Just as you ordered." "Don't play games with me, wench!" the baron replied more annoyed. "I know very well, what an excellent taste 'Shadowbanish' has. And this is surely not 'Shadowbanish'! Call the innkeeper! Now! I have few questions for him!" |
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Of course Livonna's little trickery was quickly found out. Baron of Finsterwood was furious and insisted, that dastard girl should be punished for her villainy. Livonna tried to talk herself out of trouble, saying that she just mixed up the barrels when she was pouring the wine, but nobody listened her. The innkeeper said the bartender to drag the guilty waitress into the cellar, where they striped her out from her clothes and tied her to the barrel with the cheap wine she served to the baron. Livonna already was punished few times for the bad customer service. Just like all other waitresses. The usual punishment was bare bottom belting from the bartender or the innkeeper himself, but this time he ordered to give her a good dozen with a cat'o'nine tails. And while poor Livonna was bawling and screaming in pain out loud, promising never to shortchange customers again, the innkeeper had a talk with Front-de-Bœuf. The baron made him agree, that after such a insult he has a right no to pay for his meal, and that the dastard waitress should be fired immediately. So right after her whipping, which left almost no untouched place over her buttocks and back, Livonna was threw out from the tavern. |
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Weeping in pain and despair, Livonna was walking down the street. This surely was the worst day in her life, and she couldn't blame anyone but herself. And the worst part was that she still had no money to pay the rent. Could this day become any worse? Livonna stopped and carefully rubber first her terrible sore bottom and then aching back, sobbing. Suddenly she heard laugh and music. She almost came to a town fair. And that gave the poor girl a new idea. Trying to act as if nothing had happened, Livonna walked across the fair, looking around carefully. Her new plan was simple - to steal something valuable and then sell it somewhere else. She knew, that would be wrong, but she had no other choice. But luck didn't smile on her. She had stopped in front of many counters, but marketers and customers were watchful enough, so she didn't get any chance to steal anything. Finally Livonna stopped near the stage, where a beautiful Gypsy woman was performing a passionate dance. Livonna noticed, that Gypsy's golden pendant was almost failing from her neck because of a frayed rope at each her move. So she just waited, until the Gypsy moved near her and seized the moment to catch the pendant. Then she slowly turned around and walked away. |
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The rest of the day Livonna spent trying to sell the stolen pendant. She knew few buyers of stolen goods in the town, but non of them made a bid which was enough for her. She even didn't try to get more money than in she was so terrible need to pay the rent by selling it, which meant that she would starve until she will find a new job. When the first buyer offered her his price for the pendant, which wasn't even a half of the money she need, she refused to sell it and went to another one. And then to another one. And then to another one... The sun has set. Livonna put the pendant on and sighed, looking at the rising moon. She didn't get the money to pay the rent. And now she had no choice but to return to her flat, which already was no longer hers, get another whipping and become a vagabond. She sighed and turned away from the moon. Suddenly she felt strange. Very strange. She fell on her knees, feeling that something is happening to her body. Something strange. Something weird. She finally could stand up and looked around. Then she screamed out loud. But a wild beast's howl drowned out her scream. The wolf was staying right in front of her in a doorway. It was showing off it's teeth. It's hungry eyes were glowing in the dark. Livonna screamed louder, still hearing a wolfish howling instead of her own voice. She reached her hand out to touch the beast and fell only cold glass under her fingers. Under her wolfish fingers. The only beast there was herself, and she was staying right in front of the closed basement window. |
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A large grey she-wolf was running across the streets. She had no idea what to do or where to go. All she wanted was just run away. Somewhere far from the town. In the woods, where she would be able to live by herself. Where nobody will find her. She stopped near a house at the end of the street and howled long and hard. First she heard, how the dogs started responding her with the howling from all over the town. Then the window she was standing under suddenly opened and something terrible hot scalded her back, bottom and hind legs. Poor she-wolf howled even louder, now in terrible pain, jumping and hopping around. "What's the matter, mutt? Don't you like it?" she heard a female voice. "Than go away and never come back if you don't want to get some more!" Still bawling in pain, she-werewolf ran away in the night. |
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And while Dame Athanasia and Kajira were talking about the past, sitting in a warm room in front of a fireplace, and Livonna was recalling her own past, lying under the heavy rain in the forest, Wolffang still was walking through the streets under the heavy rain, desperately searching for Livonna. She entered another gateway and stopped in fear. Two young elven women were walking down the street right in front of her. Wolffang held her breath. She would recognise this two any where. Van'Elle and Flavia! Did they finally found her? Or Or did she still have a chance? The orcess tiptoed back through the gateway. "What was that, Flavia? Did you hear something?" Wolfang heard familiar voice. "No, Van'Elle... Are you sure, that we will found anyone... Ow! Was is it really that necessary?!" "Yes, it was! And I will give you a proper spanking, if you will continue this arguing! No go and check that gateway!" Wolffang decided not to wait. She rushed to her heels without looking back. |
