Chapter 86– Lucas

As Delia got younger, Lucas was getting older but even as he well into his teenage years, he still loved experimenting with his chemistry set. 

The full moon was fast approaching and so was Lucas’ 16^th birthday. Delia would know for sure if her suspicions about Lucas being a ‘werewolf’ were correct in only two short weeks.  In the meantime she wanted to try and spend as much time as she could with him.

Since he was finally tall enough to ride the roller coaster she promised to take him to the boardwalk so he could ride the really tall one. That weekend the two of them went together.  She knew he probably would have preferred to go with his friend Martin from school, but she just couldn’t risk leaving him alone.

So together they went to the boardwalk and rode the highest roller coasters. Delia laughed because once he got on the ride, all his trash talk went out the window and Lucas held on for dear life.

When they got to the very top, Delia tried to get him to let go and he was having none of it. She showed him how it was done and put her hands up in the air as they zoomed down and the cart flew through the water soaking them both.  

  

Afterwards Lucas schooled her at a game of foosball. Delia was more than happy to let him save face after being such a big baby on the roller coasters. 

It was getting late and they had to leave. But before they left, both of them hopped into the photo booth and took some silly pictures together to commemorate the first roller coaster rides for Lucas.

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After they got home, Lucas wanted to go to Martin's house. He was excited and wanted to talk to his friend about his day. It was too late so Delia said no. Lucas was not happy with that answer and yelled at Delia in true teenage fashion, ‘Mom, I am NOT a baby anymore. Why do you treat me like one.  It isn’t fair! You are SO mean!” 

“Don’t you speak to me like that young man! It is too late and you are not going out! You have school tomorrow!!!” Delia shot back at her grandson, remembering his mother becoming pregnant when she was only 16. The last thing she wanted was for his life to become more complicated than it may already be. “You are only 15 and not yet old enough to be out by yourself and not this late anyway!” 

Lucas started to yell back but his anger overtook him in a way he had never experienced before. He could feel himself getting really hot. Then pain shot through his body as it felt like his skin was melting off and he was stretching if that was possible. He screamed out and crouched to the ground holding his head.

Afraid for him, Delia rushed over to help him. "Lucas, what's going on? What's wrong? she asked. Lucas was unable to respond and only moaned.

Then, Delia watched in horror as his features actually began to shift right before her eyes. He grew long canine teeth, claws and became extremely hairy all in the matter of a few minutes while he was screaming the whole time. 

He was transforming into a werewolf before her very eyes. 

When his transformation was complete, Lucas stood up to his full height and leapt at Delia. Delia screamed and yelled his name. “No LUCAS! It’s ME – your MOTHER – don’t you know me? Please, no baby, no!” she sobbed in tears.

When he heard Delia speak, he fell to the ground, confused as to what just happened. Delia knelt over him and spoke quietly and gently rubbed his stomach trying to calm him. She was terrified. It seemed his anger caused his transformation and even Lucas had no control over it. Her contact seemed to sooth him and the anger dissipated.  She let out a huge sigh of relief.  

Delia did not want anyone to know about this. They might try to take him from her and she wouldn't be able to bear the loss. Just when she thought dealing with supernatural beings was over, she was starting all over again. 

Finally Lucas was calm enough to communicate with her.  He slowly got up and Delia continued to calm him. She finally asked if he could ‘change’ back. 

Lucas wasn’t sure what had even happened to him, much less how he could do this thing his mom was asking him to do. He had an urge to to be running outside and he felt strong. He asked Delia what was wrong with him and was shocked at the sound of his voice. It frightened him. 

 

She just kept telling him to relax and think about calming things.  "Take deep breaths, Lucas," she said in a slow quiet voice.

Calming himself seemed to help him feel better. Lucas’ features began to slowly morph back to normal as the hair, teeth and claws seemingly retracted. Soon her grandson was standing in front of her totally confused.

“Mom, what happened to me?  I felt – weird – like my body shifted around and became different.  It hurt for a while then, it was – well – sort of powerful feeling. Please, tell me what happened,” begged Lucas.

“Lucas, I am not sure, but I think you have Lycanthropy,” said Delia.  She couldn’t bring herself to tell him he was a werewolf.

“What? What is that? Can I get antibiotics? It is …curable…right, Mom?

“Don’t worry for now, you will be fine. I think the worst is over. Get ready for bed and I will get dinner ready. See you downstairs in a few minutes.”

Delia decided leftovers would be just as well since it was now so late and she was too distraught to cook. She grabbed some French Toast and left the Egg Rolls for Lucas.  As Delia was getting ready to put it on the table, Victoria’s ghost suddenly appeared and just silently watched as Delia pulled out the leftovers.

Victoria must have sensed what happened with Lucas and wanted to check on him.  When Delia and Lucas sat down to eat, Victoria did the same.  Delia knew Lucas couldn’t see her so she pretended she wasn’t sitting there.  She and Lucas ate supper silently, each lost in their own thoughts.

Lucas wondered what had just happened to him and worried if it would ever happen again while Delia grieved for her dead daughter, destined to be a ghostly teenager forever, having died when she was only 17, not even 2 years older than her son sitting here at the table and how she was going to fix his problem and help him through it in the meantime. 

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The next day Delia high-tailed it back to the consignment store after Lucas left for school.  She didn’t have much time before the full moon and Lucas would possibly change again.  Last time she asked about half-vampires.  Hah!  I was way off track on that one she thought. Now she needed to find out about Lycanthropy.  At least now she had a rapport with the clerk. 

Delia made small talk and consigned some more items.  Finally she got brave enough to broach the subject and whispered, “Do you know much about or have any books on, well, Lycanthropy?”

“You mean werewolves?  Oh yes!  Do you know any?” responded the clerk excitedly.

Delia rolled her eyes. “Oh, no.  I was just doing research for a, umm, a book I am writing. I wanted it to be close to the legends,” stammered Delia.

“Legends? Well, I am not so sure they aren’t real; what do you want to know?” she asked.

Delia thought about it.  “Well, I know they turn at the full moon, but really, that is about all I know.  Can they turn anytime they want, can they be provoked to turn, what do they eat, are they dangerous to loved ones, can they be cured and if so how?” 

“Wow, that is a lot.  I have some books but let me try to answer some of your questions. It seems they can turn back and forth at will, but perhaps that control comes with age and if they get into a fight, they may turn. They eat A LOT and will eat raw meat but aren’t necessarily a danger to those they love. Now, the last question about cures…It isn’t easy, true love always can lead to a cure if their mate wants them to be cured they usually will.  Otherwise, there are strong potions that can cure them.  But only a powerful mystic can create and administer them. I believe one of the ingredients can only be found in Riverview.”

“Thank you so much,” said Delia and hastily added with a nervous laugh, “I wasn’t planning to make a cure, but I will take the books.”

Delia paid for the books and went home. She went straight to the computer and began researching. She knew what she had to do. There was no way she was going to let well enough alone. She would research the recipe for the cure and find a place to live.  Riverview she thought now I know where we will be moving. Then she thought a Mystic - well evidently I must be a powerful one. I was able to cure myself and my daughters of vampirism and it worked fine, this should too. Riverview, here we come.

  

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