Leopold grabbed her wrist just in time. They crouched on the path, waiting, but they heard no other sound. Slowly, they began to climb again.
When they reached the top, Leopold pulled out his sword again, but the forest around the shrine remained silent.
They sneaked toward the arched entrance.
“Where’s the amulet?” Elizabeth whispered, standing in the middle of the tower and looking around.
Before anyone could answer, a werewolf jumped out of one of the arched entrances. Leopold ran to protect the girls, blocking the beast’s attack with his sword.
“The amulet! It’s on the monster’s neck!” Katherine pointed at a stone circle with carved creatures, bouncing off the werewolf’s chest.
Elizabeth gulped. Could she snatch it? She wished she wouldn’t have to, that she could just wait for Leopold to defeat the beast. But it didn’t look like he would be able to.
The boy kept blocking the monster’s attacks, but while he was busy protecting himself from its fangs, the werewolf slashed at him with its paw. Leopold quickly pushed the beast’s muzzle away and switched his blade to block the new attack. The monster leaned against the sword, pinning Leopold against the wall, and snapped its fangs at him.
Trying to gather her courage, Elizabeth took a deep breath and ran toward the monster. She managed to grab the cord of the amulet, but the monster turned and threw her to the ground.
“Quick! Wish the monster to be dead!” The girl in the fancy dress appeared beside Elizabeth.
Only then she realized that she was still holding the cord, and hanging from it was the amulet. She grabbed it and closed her eyes. Is saying the wish all she needed to do to make the amulet work?
“I wish…” she started, but her hand began to itch, so she looked down for a moment. It was covered with fur and long claws took the place of her nails!
But she’s losing time! Any moment the werewolf will tear her apart! Making the wish was the only way she could survive.
She looked at the monster. It was growling and snapping its fangs at her, but for every step it took forward, it quickly took a step back.
Was it because she held the amulet?
The werewolf’s weird behaviour gave her time to notice that it was wearing clothes - clothes she recognized.
“Jonathan?” She gasped.
She looked back to the amulet.
“You can have anything you’d ever wish for.” Her look-alike whispered.
Elizabeth shook her head. If that would really be true, Jonathan wouldn’t be stuck in a monster’s body.
She dropped the amulet to the ground and crashed it with the heel of her boot.
A swell of dizziness came over her and she staggered back. Katherine caught her and helped her sit down.
The werewolf fell to the ground and began to change back into Jonathan.
“Jonathan!” Elizabeth ran to him and helped him to sit up.
“Thanks for coming, sis.” He said, giving her a quick hug.
Elizabeth helped him to get up and the four of them headed out.
“It is a pity about the amulet though.” Jonathan turned his head to look at the broken pieces. “It did grant wishes, you know. I’m sure we could have figured out how to get rid of the werewolf part.”
“Pretty hard to do research with claws instead of nails.” Elizabeth moved her fingers and laughed.
“I guess so.” He cocked his head. “But for once I was so close to making our lives better.”
“But I like our lives. I know I worry about you a lot when you’re out on quests, but I guess I could just go with you. And I’ll paint better if I’m there to see all those places myself.” She smiled at him.
“And if you’re looking for a herbalist, I wouldn’t mind tagging along for a while.” Katherine said.
“Or a knight.” Leopold added.
Jonathan shook his head and laughed with joy.
“Though…” Elizabeth bit her lip and turned her head to have a last look at the broken amulet. “The girl said that the amulet would help us find our parents…” she sighed heavily.
Katherine patted her shoulder.
“You did remember the song, maybe you’ll remember more in time?”
Elizabeth nodded and smiled.
“Maybe.”