This choice: Talk to Granddad, see if he knows anything about what happened • Go Back... "Hey Granddad, are you still up?" you whispered, knocking gently on his door. "Something happened and I think you might know what's going on." You felt vulnerable, and you hated it. You were an athlete, and a good one at that; fast, a bit strong, and a good aim. There was no reason you should ever feel weak. Yet here you were, waiting outside your grandfather's room, after nearly having been hunted down with no explanation, having the slight notion that his ridiculous story might actually be true.
"I am, Stephen. What's the issue?" You sigh. On one hand, you have absolutely no idea how to explain what happened to you without it sounding completely absurd. On the other, it's your grandfather who mentioned the whole minotaur thing, so there's a vague hope has some insight into what happened.
You slowly open the door and look around. It's not a large bedroom by any means, but it's sizeable enough. Granddad is sitting on his bed, a book on his lap he was reading with the light from the lamp on the nightstand. You take a deep breath and explain everything that happened. Watching his face as you describe your ordeal, you notice his expression quickly change from puzzlement to dread. You hear him curse under his breath before looking up at you, a look of pity in his eyes.
"I'm so, so sorry Stephen. I was hoping you might be able to avoid all this, but I guess I was wrong." The confused look on your face told Granddad how little you knew.
"A long, long time ago, our family was cursed. Every few generations, the firstborn son would be not fully a man, also an animal, specifically a bull." You stand there completely dazed. You're hearing what he's saying, but you're not quite comprehending it. Curses? Bull men? This goes against every single thing you know about reality. "That's why I'm not, but I know so much about it. My brother Simon, your grand-uncle was. I saw him change, I saw what he could do, and it was incredible." You listen but are more concerned with who the stranger-danger posse in the black van was. "The Knights. They fancy themselves as dragon slayers, making their goal to completely eradicate any monster that looks like a man." He emphasizes the last part oddly, obviously mocking their mantra. "They weren't all that scary when I was younger and helping my brother, but I guess they must've been able to commandeer modern technology into their hunting regime." He pauses, sighing wistfully and shaking his head softly before continuing. "That's how Simon died. Not a car accident, but the Knights finally finding him." He looks as if he as more to say, but is unable to speak the words. You let the silence linger for a bit, giving your grandfather a moment to collect himself.
After a while, you mention that while this all sounds awful, being hunted for your life for something you had no choice over, but are confused because earlier he sounded so enthusiastic about it. "Because part of it is! You can do astounding things, amazing feats of strength and power." He was almost awestruck, obviously recalling what he had seen years ago. "But I didn't know the Knights were even more dangerous. I had hoped that they just...went away. Gave up and moved on with their lives or some such nonsense." You roll your eyes. That was naive, and honestly a bit stupid of him.
"Here, I guess it's time for me to give you this, then." He says, tossing the blankets off his lap and getting up to look in the nightstand drawer. Shuffling around a bit, he pulls out a small, partially transparent bag, within which you can see a small brass ring. "It'll help you control your powers, letting you decide when to change. I'm not quite sure how it works, unfortunately," he mentions, placing the small bag in your hands, clasping his own around yours. "Listen to me," his voice completely serious. "These people want nothing more to see you dead and your head over their fireplace, but I believe - no, I know - that you have the strength, the power, to destroy any enemy that comes in your path." You nod as he takes his hands away, utterly unsure of how to respond.
As you head to your room down the hall, you...  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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