Dungeon of the Howling Shadows

Chapter 1

Bang!

The loud sound that had almost exploded Mira's eardrums made her jump with fright from her short nap.

She looked around, clearly terrified. A movie was playing recently on the screen in the shop, and everything she read in the headlines was news of bomb blasts. In that split second, that was what crossed her mind until she held the angry eyes of her employer.

Mira scrambled to her feet, fully awake now. Even though she had confirmed it was no bomb, the smoke and burnt smell in the air suggested otherwise. And that was when she recalled.

She has left something on fire before she lay on the table! Her eyes widened with more fright. Now, a bomb blast will almost be more preferable than her madam's explosion.

"I am so sorry," Mira set to apologise immediately, her hands clasped together around her chest, fearing the woman's reaction.

"I don't pay you to get my shop burnt down," The woman said angrily between gritted teeth. "Since you came to this shop, it has been one problem after another. I shouldn't have accepted you here because I knew from the outset you were up to no good."

Mira panicked. Is her employer going to fire her now? Goodness, she couldn't afford that.

"Oh, please, Mrs Casey," she begged earnestly. "I am terribly sorry. This will never happen again."

Mira had said this a countless number of times. She had tried to cope since she got the job and it has not been easy on her. Casey did not look like she was going to have it this time.

"Get your things and leave," she said coldly. "And don't you ever set foot here again."

"No, no, please, Mrs Casey," Mira pleaded desperately, but the older woman walked away briskly. The other workers could only stare from a safe space and no one interfered. Mira did not expect they would anyway, since she did not have a relationship with any of them.

She shouldn't have lain her head, Mira chided herself, even though she knew it was a rest she needed and she couldn't help it.

Working herself out from morning to night was the only way she could afford to survive, and now she's just lost the job her foster parents had struggled to get for her.

She dragged her tired body home, afraid of what they, especially her not very pleasant and abusive father, would say to that. She waited out till it was her normal closing time and made her way to the small old bungalow.

A strange wave hit her when she got closer to the door and she stopped in her tracks. They were at it again, she thought to herself. Arguing all the time. She could hear their voices from where she stood.

However, that was not what exactly bothered her. The wind that suddenly descended on her was quite strange. She could not tell what it was, but after bracing herself, she walked into the house, opening the door quietly so she would not get their attention, but did anyway.

"Good evening, mum, good evening, dad," she had to greet. They glared at her, momentarily stopping their bawl. Mira swallowed hard. All she wanted was to get to her room, away from them.

Her father dropped the almost finished stick of cigarette in his hand and walked a few steps towards her.

"It's almost the month's end," he said in a low, gruff tone. "I need your salary as soon as possible."

Mira did not worry that was the greeting she got, but how could she tell him that not only did she lose her job, but she was also not getting any salary because her boss was going to use it for repairs?

"Did you hear me?" He said menacingly and she shifted back a little.

"Ye..yes sir," she stuttered and took a deep breath when he was out of her face. Her mother barely looked at her as she turned towards her room.

"Come down soon for your meal before it gets cold," she called after her but Mira did not reply. She was not hungry. Food was the least of her problems now. She needed to figure out what to tell them about the job.

Immediately, she entered her room, and the strange wind that had hit her earlier became stronger. It felt like a force was dragging her.

She rested on the door for a while to get herself, not understanding what all that was. She walked in fully with a suspicious look on her face, but there was nothing in sight to get her worried, yet the feeling felt so real.

"What we expect to be doesn't become, and reality mostly is a fallacy," A voice said behind her, and she jumped, turning round abruptly.

There was a figure beside her old wooden cupboard. Mira could not find her voice to scream.

"Who are you?" She found herself asking instead. "And what are you doing here?"

Maybe it was the comported manner in which the lady leaned on the cupboard that held Mira in place

"Name's Nyssa," the lady said casually. "I am here to take you with me, to a place you belong."

Mira looked her all over, wondering what she meant by that.

"What do you mean?"

"I have no time for explanations," Nyssa said. "But you can come with me and live the life you were destined to have, or remain here," she eyed her briefly and continued. "Without ever finding out who you really are and suffering."

"Who am I?" The question almost sounded ridiculous, but this lady seemed to know more about her and somehow she believed her.

"You," Nyssa lifted her body so skillfully towards Mira. "Are the chosen one. The mate of the Almighty Alpha of the Nightwalker pack. You were lost in this world, but fate has brought you to us. If you come with me, your life will be changed forever."

"Alpha?"

"Ever heard of werewolves?"

"I am a human," Mira stated, not seeing any sense in it.

"Of misplaced identity," Nyssa replied. "Why do you think I will be here if I don't have any business with you?"

Well, this makes sense, Mira thought. She looked towards the door, hearing her parents' harsh murmurs against each other and made her decision.