Imprint

2 - Selection

Snow
*A first person point of view*

I could see from my periphery the bare bodies of the three women beside me.

Although, I was never close to them, I felt embarrassed seeing their naked bodies. More so, when it was my frail body standing beside their voluptuous frames. I brushed a lock from my face as my father scowled at me. I put the trembling hand down my side and straightened my back.

"You shall enter, his alpha's personal garden. It is within the premises. You shall select a creature in that room, place it in these cages and come back here."

We were handed the cages. The metal was cold and heavy against my palm. The skin where I held it turned red as we entered the garden.

The garden was within a glass walled corner of the mansion. It had a high ceiling where the windows were left ajar to let the cold night breeze in. No matter how strong the wind got, the torches burned bright which lit the garden a luminescent hue of orange.

My sisters started their search. Just as I was about to walk to my chosen corner, I froze as the scent grew stronger. I licked my lips as the scent surrounded me. It left the space between my legs warm and damp.

I walked to the nearest wall where I leaned my hand on the cold surface. The scent faded quickly as I sent out to find my creature.

Reaching a narrow pathway lined with vines of lush greenery, I saw a bird house where a small brown bird was chirping. I lay the cage open on the ground as I whistled back the tune. I smiled as the bird took notice. I kept whistling as it flew on the lush grass before the cage.

I was still now. I didn't want to startle the creature. Just as it hopped towards me, its wing snagged inside the cage and the metal snapped close.

The bags of my eyes grew heavy as the four of us now stood with our selected animals in their cages. My stomach turned to knots just as the elder spoke.

"Now you each shall execute them with the abilities you all have."

Lais went first, snapping the neck of the mouse so easily. I jerked as the rodent squealed beneath her touch. It looked so easy. I gazed at father who was intently nodding his head towards my sister. It made me sick. It felt like never knew her.

But did I ever really know her? Any of them?

Celeste caught a garden snake. Its dark green scales slithered towards her. Before the creature could move another inch. It twisted and turned and started sinking its fangs on its own body. The scene went on as I looked away. Just as the creature stood still, Celeste grabbed it and threw it straight to the firepit.

Then,Margaux disposed of her winged lizard. It ran out if its cage but it wasn't fast enough when a knife flew from her fingers and landed right on its head. She looked away right at the end. But the sharp metal already flew its course ending the life of the animal.

My father's laughter broke the room. He was embarrassing. The elder winced at his doing.

Now, I stood before the poor bird. I whistled again and it stopped resisting me as I took him from his cage. The creature was shuddering beneath my skin as I held my eyes shut before anyone saw tears forming in them.

I, too, trembled the moment I came here.

My chest stiffened as my heart beat a riot. I did not dare look at the creature in between my fingers for the fear I might only see myself.

"Do it, Snow." My father knew what I was capable of.

I opened my eyes and let streams fell from my cheeks. My fingers trembled as I released the animal in front of me.