The Chronicles of Red Riding Hood

Okay, I got a review saying that I was vague at the part between the wolf and granny. Looking back at it, I found that the reviewer had a point. I was in a hurry and seemed had forgotten my so grahpic imagery. I have corrected it, so CH.3 is extended, so give it read and tell what you think. To Wondering Thought, thanks for the review and the advice. I hope this new version is better. Tell me if it is. To everyone else, give some pointers, i'm open for critism. I'll shut up and let you read, bye ^.^

****************************************************************************************************************


It was a horrible day for travel; the day was cold and wet as rain fell from the thick grey clouds. The wind picked up, and Lydia pulled her red velvet riding hood close to her body. She would have rather been home, but then again there was no way in hell she was going back home.
Home, the girl scoffed, more like a tomb.
No she would not return to her fiendish father. With a deep breath she pressed on through the mud and rain. Lydia had to reach her grandmother’s home; there she would be safe from her father’s men that were most likely out searching for her.
A slip of a foot suddenly made the girl fall to the ground, covering her front with mud.
“Fantastic!” Lydia yelled “Like my life hasn’t gone to hell in a hand basket” muttered the girl. Bitter tears leaked from her eyes in her grief and frustration. Everything she knew was gone now, and there was no way in getting it back. More tears came forth, mingling with the rain and mud on her face. Lydia hated to cry, sure in this day and age, women were viewed as weak. Good girls cried and waited for a man to make it better. Good girls didn’t fight back or disobey; too bad Lydia wasn’t a good little girl. Lydia gritted her teeth and sat herself up, yet, as she did so…
Snap!
Lydia’s head shot up at the sound. She looked around nervously. “It could be father’s henchmen or some wild beast. I hope to god that’s it neither”
“Well, well, looked like a lamb lost its way” spoke a ruff voice. Lydia looked ahead to come face to face with a beast. The creature was a wolf and no ordinary wolf, but a huge one. A strong build of rock hard muscles lay underneath sleek ebony fur as black as night. Bright golden eyes stared with dark amusement. This was no wolf thought Lydia, but a hell hound from the deepest pit in hell.
Oh, thank-you lord, you’re really lending a helping hand today, thought Lydia sarcastically.
Lydia sat on her knees as she stared at the wolf, “I…I…I’m not lost” Lydia cursed on how weak she sounded
“Then where are you off to?” asked the wolf as he began to circle the young woman.
“What business is it of yours?” snapped Lydia. She didn’t have time for this; she had to be on her way.
The wolf remained calm as he completed his circle and came to stand before Lydia. “Well, this is my wood and I would think it is my business to know who trespasses. Now once again little lamb where are you off to?”
Lydia felt that she was in a real bind. If she didn’t answer the wolf, he could become angry and kill her, on the other hand, Lydia had a bad feeling in revealing her destination, then again he is only a wolf, what harm would come in telling him; he could be jus curious.
At least so I can get the hell outer here, thought Lydia.
“To my grandma’s house, she’s…she’s…ill, yeah…ill and I have to take care of her” answered Lydia. Ha, perfect excuse. “Now if you excuse me, I must be on my way” Lydia spoke as she got to her feet.
“Liar” replied the wolf.
“What?”
“You lie, even an infant could tell you were lying” grinned the wolf.
“How would you know?” glared Lydia.
“Well, my little red riding hood, one, you were fishing for excuses with your long pauses. Second, I can hear that you are being pursued by many men. If I would take a guess, you are a runaway noble, judging by that fine red cloak you have and by the men that follow you” remarked the wolf, pleased that he was so clever.
What the hell? What kind of wolf is this, thought Lydia. “If you knew all that, then why do you stop me to pester me? Clearly, you can see I’m in a hurry.”
“You know, you’re pretty rude for a noble girl” remarked the wolf. “So where does your grandmother live?” asked the wolf.
“What does that have do with anything!” yelled Lydia. The girl always did have a fierily attitude, and was prone to lose her temper.
“Temper, temper my dear. I merely want to help you. I could direct you to a short cut” replied the wolf, trying to keep a smile that threatened to spread on his face.
“Oh” remarked the girl dumbly. I guess he isn’t so bad then. If he gets me to my grandma’s faster that would be great.
“She lives deep in the wood, an hour from here I believe. Actually, why would an old woman live all the way out here in the first place? It doesn’t make much sense at all” At this point Lydia mind went off track.

Wow! Are all humans this dim? She’s making this way too easy. I can make this work out in my favor. She is a noble woman and will have access to other nobles if not that damnable king. If I play my cards right, surely I can get back into my pack, thought the wolf. Already a wicked plan was forming in his brain.
“My dear little lamb, I am sorry for delaying your journey. Please, let me make it up to you” asked the wolf.
“Huh? Oh…um…thanks…sure help away” Way to sound smooth Lydia, thought the girl darkly.
“When you reach the fork in the road that is ahead, you should take the left path. It will get you to your grandmother’s quicker” said the wolf.
“Really? It’s been ages since I visited her; I’m a bit fuzzy on the directions.” smiled Lydia. “Thanks wolf. Well I got to run, thanks again” replied Lydia as she fled the scene.
Better get going before daddy’s men find me or wolf-breath changes his mind and eats me, thought Lydia.
“Farewell little lamb” called the wolf. “You shouldn’t thank me just yet” smile the wolf as he followed from a distance. He watched the young girl take the left path, which was not the quickest way to the old woman. In fact, the path was the longer way; the right was the shorter way. “Oops, I made a mistake” laughed the wolf, “now to beat the lamb to the old woman”
The wolf then left down the quicker path.
It didn’t take the beast long to reach the small home. The house was a simple brown home nestled in a clearing, the white shutters were old and worn from years of neglect, thick vines of ivy covered the home to the point it blended well with the forest layout. Nasty, thick, black weeds massed in the front yard, giving a rather sinister look to the home.
You would think it would be a pleasant looking place, thought the wolf; hope the hag isn’t a witch. Nonetheless, the wolf made his way up to the door of the home. There he crouched down and his body began to change. Sicken snaps could be heard from within the wolf as bones cracked and bended, as organs rearranged and fur receded. In a moment, what once a great black wolf stood a man. Indeed, the wolf was more than just a wolf, but a were-wolf. The wolf now, should six foot, strong muscles that were once hidden by fir were now visible on his chest, legs and arms. Messy, black hair hung below his broad shoulders and ragged ebony bangs nearly covered golden eyes. The wolf would be a catch within the vulpine community, yet in human form he was easy on the eyes. The old woman would have no chance at refusing him.
Before knocking at the crumbling door, the wolf caked on some mud to make himself look like he went through an ordeal and needed shelter. Screw pretending to be Red, this would work perfectly.
Confident he looked the part, the wolf knocked on the door. The door creaked open a crack, a crackled old voice spoke, “who is it?’
“Please madam; I’ve been attacked by thieves on the road. Pl…please could you spare some shelter.” said the wolf, sounding as pathetic as he could.
The door instantly opened to reveal a withered old woman, with messy gray hair and dull blue eyes. She wore an old black dress and looked as thou someone died.
Her eyes took in the nakedness of the man in front of her, with appreciation.
“What the hell”, thought the wolf
“You poor, wet, thing; please come in. You must be freezing to death” cooed the old woman.
“Thank-you very much” replied the wolf. He was quickly ushered in, and the door behind him dead bolted.
“Come dear, warm yourself by the fire” said the old woman, sitting the wolf into a chair by the fire. She quickly grabbed a blanket and slid it around the man, her hands lingering on his shoulders.
I think grandma is a bit of a letch, thought the wolf. “I thank you for your kindness” said the wolf, offering a dazzling smile.
“Think nothing of it, dear. It’s been some time since a handsome, young man visited my home” purred the woman.
Okay, definitely a letch. Better kill her soon before Red gets her or granny ties me to a bed, thought the wolf.
“If I known you would show up on my doorstep I would have put something white on. Well, perhaps I’ll change later, black is appropriate right now” remarked the old woman.
“Why’s that. Has someone close to you died?” asked the wolf.
“Oh no, well…not yet” said the woman as a wicked smile spread across her face “You see, my granddaughter is coming here, the poor thing. She just lost her mother and lover, how sad. I can’t see why the poor thing would want to live, and it’s been so long since a young woman as come this way. I am getting older regrettably and am in need of blood of a young girl. So you see I’m dressed in black for the funeral of my granddaughter” said the woman.
Horror spread across the wolf’s face, “why…why would you need a maid’s blood?” asked the wolf.
“Well to bathe in it, of course. Bathing in the blood of young maids, makes me young. If you do just right, the maiden’s life-force seeps along with her blood. Sadly, one’s life force grows dimmer as they age or like me, do too many powerful spells.”
“How old are you?” dumbly asked the wolf. This was news to him.
The old woman chuckled darkly, her withered lips pulled back to reveal crooked yellow teeth. “Ha, ha, do you think in this day and age, a woman of my age would be still alive? No, a true mortal would be dead, a corpse rotted and ugly in the ground” a sour look appeared on the old woman’s face, as she seemed to slip back to a distant memory. “I have so much left to finish, a mortal life is too short, especially in these dark times. I’ve have scratched and pecked my way in life, granted I have indeed strayed from the virtuous road, but we all know the good are not always rewarded. That is something the priests make up to ease your mind, so all your misery is worth it in the end. Lies! No, one has to step on others and sin to achieve his or her desires.” Spoke the woman, her tone told a dark tale that was her life. “Women have no power in this male dominated world, my dear. Young men like yourself think that everything should be laid at your feet, especially a woman. The way for a woman to gain power is for her to be either a pretty little doll, that stays still and quite or a witch that lays waste to that entire stand in her way. Being a doll didn’t work out for me, I was poor and no noble man would take me for a wife. No, no not a rat like me. It seemed that I would be doomed to be a beggar girl for the rest of my life, till the day I stole a book from a peddler. I do not know what willed me to steal a book, but I am glad I did. That book was full of black magic, spells to solve all my troubles. With it I craved my future. I married a noble man, enchanting him was no hard task, I made his dreams come true, and I bore him a beautiful daughter. I was content in my life, till my own beauty began to fade and my husbands eyes turned to dolled up whores!” spat the woman, her wrinkled hands formed fists. The wolf could feel waves of fury roll off the fail old woman.
She does have a strong will, interesting, thought the wolf. However, his thoughts were interrupted when the woman began to speak again.
“It was then, my dear that learned that magic can do a lot of things, but there are something’s it can’t, like make love last forever…” She uttered, her voice laced with the pain of betrayal and loneliness but her tone quickly changed, “I was no weak woman, and the wretch would pay for betraying me. I read the spell to make me young again, heh, heh; I took his young, pretty lover and made a bath of her blood. Her beauty became mine! That fool of a husband of mine, melted in the palm of my hands, but my lovely hands took his life” the woman began to crackle madly; it was a wicked and cruel laugh that made chills run down the wolf’s spine. This was a time in the wolf’s long life that he wanted to flee with his tail lowered.
“I moved on…” said the woman, her laughing done, “I decided to put my effort in raising my daughter. She was perfect and she married the perfect man, or so I thought. Now I come to find out that she is dead and due to her husband no less. Damn her, damn her to hell! Everything I did for her and look what has happened!” wailed the woman, throwing her hands to her head. Blood leaked from her scalp as she clawed herself. The wolf looked on disturbed.
Suddenly, the woman stopped and her hands fell to her side, limb. The fury that once drowned her aura, ceased, leaving an eerie calm. She stared at the wolf blankly.
It like staring at a vulture, thought the wolf, like her eyes are sucking the life right out of me. Damn, she must be a strong witch.
The woman spoke again, “Yet, how lady luck as shined down on me to deliver my beautiful granddaughter for my renewal, and what’s more; a handsome young man to be my lover, what joy” laughed the old woman with a smile.
“How can you say that? Why would you curse your daughter and plot to murder your granddaughter? Shouldn’t your malice be directed to your daughter’s husband?” asked the wolf. To him the woman’s actions made no sense.
“That’s simple young man…” smile the woman “It is in men’s nature to be deceitful pigs. They cannot help it, however, I taught my daughter to be strong. Not to bend to her husbands will like a beaten dog. She has disgraced me, by dieing without a fight. She was weak and no doubt her child is also weak. I will not tolerate weakness. For years I put in my sweat, tears, and blood to make my child successful, and she spits in my face! No more…no more will I waste my time on others; its time to focus on myself. I will kill my grandchild, take her blood, become beautiful and take you as my lover. I will rule over my own world, here in this home, and you will serve me till you die or I grow tired on you. This time around, I am the man that has everything laid at his glorious feet!” roared the woman.

To think I almost felt sorry for killing the bitch. This hag is sicker than even me, thought the wolf. I’ve had a hard life too, but I didn’t go around and kill my family. Then again, it’s not in a wolf’s nature to kill its own kind with intent. Human’s are truly disgusting things.
“Tell me granny, what will happen if I refuse you?” asked the wolf.
“You won’t. Like my husband, bewitching you won’t be hard; young men break easily” smirked the woman.
“I see…well listening to your sad life story has been entertaining. I do enjoy a good tragedy, however, you are mistaking about one thing my dear lady” said the wolf.
“Oh, what is that?” asked the woman.
“You are unlucky today…” remarked the man, his head lowered to cover his eyes.
“What do you mean young man? Do not fret for I will be beautiful and I have more than enough experience to please you in bed” winked the woman as her eyes traveled down the wolf’s body. “Not that you will have a say in it. Your heart, body, and soul will soon belong to me”
“I mean to say that it is unlucky for you, because I am no man” said the wolf and his head rose to reveal glowing gold eyes filled with malice. His mouth opened to reveal sharp fangs, thirsty for blood.
“A beast!” shrieked the woman. I see, a wolf has tried to trick me. No matter, he is still lovely and he being a wolf means he will be all the more useful, thought the woman.
“Indeed, I have no desire to be a slave to a shriveled up prune as you, and besides, like you, I have plans for your dear granddaughter, which requires for you to be out of the way. I thought I would feel a little bad about killing a defenseless old woman, but I see I will enjoy ripping you apart” said the wolf.
“Ha, my dear beast, it seems we both share a wicked heart and a black soul. I believe we’re kindred spirits. Can’t we work together?” asked the woman. Surely, this animal can be coaxed into submission, after all beasts are there for the entertainment of humans, thought the woman gleefully.
“Nay, perhaps we are both evil, however, I require a true beauty, not a false one” replied the wolf, his tongue sliding over his teeth. “Besides, I can’t have someone upstaging me. Being wicked and cruel are my titles”
“A shame, but I will have her and you. You beast are no match for my magic, and I always wanted a pet”
“We shall see who wins. I warn you I never lose” the wolf growled, before he lunged.


********************************************************************************************
Leave reviews and hits ^.^