DAMNATION
The morning sun broke through the curtains and seemed to hit Remus in the eyes no matter which way he turned. He felt too drained and lazy to actually get out of his bed and close drapes, and he had discovered last night that he had lost his wand. He grunted and pulled the blanket up over his head, eager to fall back asleep when a loud knock at the door brought him fully into awareness.
Blood was still caked on his face and neck, and even if the entire house had heard about his damnation, he would still look a fright. Pulling the blanket around his naked body he walked over to the door and barred the entry by leaning against it.
"Who is it?" he barked with more anger than he had intended.
"It's Tonks, Remus. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, it's fine. I'm not decent right now."
"Molly's expecting everyone downstairs for breakfast."
"I'm not hungry right now." Remus said over the protesting growl from his stomach. "Would you mind to do me a favor?"
"Of course." Tonks replied softly.
"Go down the hall and shut the bathroom door so that I can apparate there."
Tonks furrowed her brow in confusion. "Why not just walk there?"
"Please, Tonks, I can't tell you why."
"Okay." He heard her footsteps retreating down the hall and then a door shut. Dropping the blanket, Remus apparated and grimaced as he saw his reflection in the mirror. He was more than a fright, he was down right terrifying. His I-teeth had elongated in the night, and his entire upper torso was covered in blood and dirt. He turned on the water in the tub, unable to look at himself any longer and began to scrub himself clean. Lupin made a conscious effort to retract his I-teeth, and hoped that his appearance was somewhat more decent.
**********
Remus spent the day locked in his room, pacing the confined space. If he kept quiet, the rest of the house would likely assume that he'd gone out and would leave him alone.
He felt like a caged animal and mused with biterness that he was exactly that--a beast in a cage, awaiting escape. He had to do something, anything but sit here. Lupin had never understood Sirius' need to get out of the house, to risk his life and safety for a brief romp, but now he knew all too well what that was like. The only difference was that Sirius had only longed for freedom, whereas Remus longed for blood.
The longer he went without it, the more he craved and needed it. It was beginning to consume him, eating what was left of his humanity. If Snape couldn't brew the potion in time, there would be nothing left to save. Remus would forever be a slave to his werewolf form; forced to live a life of misery and madness.
Chapter Five
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