Author T.M. Witko

Freedom was all Midnight wanted so when the opportunity presented itself, he took it. Tired of being on the run, he worked his way to old New Orleans where he sought the help from a witch doctor. She tells him she can help him go through life undetected, but as payment for this gift, he will need to serve her. In desperation, he agrees but the spell transforms him. Enraged by his new circumstances, he takes matters into his own hands, with dire consequences. Stuck in a vicious cycle, between horse and man, he is forced into solitude. That is until he rescues a young sorceress who opens his heart to love, and the possibility of happiness.

1 Finding Midnight

Mississippi, 1743

The smell of the tobacco fields filled Midnight’s nostrils. He closed his eyes and shook his head. It was a smell that he had grown to hate more than anything else. It made him remember pain and sorrow. He had known no happiness on this evil land, with its vile men, and there was no reason to endure it any longer.

Sunset was lingering over the plantation, making it almost seem peaceful and serene. The sting from the marks on his back told a different story. This place was anything but peaceful or serene. There was no doubt in his mind that if he didn’t leave now, he would die here, and that was something he would not allow to happen. He listened at the makeshift door. No sounds but the crickets.

“Don’t do this,” a voice from the darkness said.

Midnight sighed and looked in the direction of the old man they all called Rhemus. He was a good man with a kind heart. His mama liked him, so Midnight did as well. It was dark inside; the only light was from the moon peeping inside. The old man sat up from the floor and waved Midnight over. Midnight stood in place for a moment, and then finally took a few steps toward him.

“I can’t stay no longer. Mama’s gone, there’s nothing keeping me here no more,” he whispered, just in case someone could hear him.

“They’ll hang you if they find you,” the man replied. Midnight could hear the pain in his words.

“They won’t find me.” Midnight kneeled near him. “You sure you don’t wanna come with me?”

The old man choked out a laugh, and then stifled it just as quickly. “I’d hold us back and they’d hang us both for sure.”

Midnight offered him a smile and touched his cheek. “Take care of everyone.”

He nodded slowly. “Do the best I can.” He motioned his head toward the door. “Now go, and stay low.”

“I will.”

“Get as far away as you can. Don’t stop for nothing, ya hear?” the old man stated with fire in his belly.

“I hear ya,” Midnight agreed.

“If ya gonna go, get going,” the old man said with a rush.

Midnight smiled before finally rising from his crouched position. He turned and slowly crept out of the one room house that had been his home since he was eight years old. He had been sold, along with his mother, nearly fifteen years ago. He knew he was lucky in that way, as a lot of people were separated. He’d seen it with his own eyes. Mothers and children wailing for one another. It was inhumane. He thought about his own mama. She’d begged them to take him too. One good look at him and they agreed. He understood why. He was big for his age so they figured he could be put in the fields sooner, which was exactly what they had done. He worked alongside his mama, until sickness had taken her away two years ago.

Since his mama’s death, he had tried to escape six times, and each time the beating was worse than the ones before it. This time would be different though. He was sure of it. He looked toward the big house. All the lights were off. His eyes closed as he listened for any movement. His master had several large dogs, but he didn’t hear them so he figured they must be sleeping. He’d need to go slowly so as to not awaken them. That had been his mistake in the past.

“Go,” he whispered to himself.

With a steady breath, he took his first step away from the house, away from the plantation, and away from the whip. He didn’t know what was out there for him, but he knew it had to be better than the life he was living. Once he hit the tree line, he exhaled a sharp breath. He hadn’t realized that he had been holding his breath all this time. He looked back at the plantation. It was actually quite beautiful in the moonlight.

“Bye, Mama,” he stated with sadness.

He turned back around and started walking a bit faster. He stopped briefly to listen for any sounds. Nothing. That was good. He had a head start, but that didn’t mean he could lollygag. He needed to get as far away as possible while it was dark, since there was no way to not be seen during the day.  He started to run, as quickly as his legs could take him.

“Don’t let ‘em find you,” he told himself, forcing his legs to move even faster.

He stopped and looked around. The sun was starting to peek over the horizon. He needed to find a hiding place. But how far had he gone? Was he enough of a distance away that the dogs wouldn’t sniff him out? He wasn’t sure of either. With a heavy sigh, he continued to walk. His legs fighting for every step. He walked and walked until he couldn’t move anymore. Perhaps this was far enough for the day.

Midnight looked around, trying to decide where he could rest and be out of sight of anyone. He strode a bit farther, his legs aching in protest. Finally, he found a set of broken tree branches that had fallen, forming a pile resembling a small fence. He would hide there. He quickly gathered some debris and did his best to cover himself up, which was difficult considering his size. He lay on the ground, repositioning the branches to cover himself and his location better. When he was sufficiently satisfied that he couldn’t be seen, his eyes closed as sleep quickly took over.

“Boy, whatcha doing out here?” a voice stated.

Midnight woke with a fright. He was staring up at a black man, not much older than he. He could tell by his clothes that he was a slave as well. Midnight was torn on what to do. He instinctively wanted to knock the man out and run, but what if the man’s master was nearby. He would surely get hung without hesitation.

“Is you running away?” the man asked, glancing around, worry seeping out of every pore.

“Yes,” Midnight stated in a barely audible tone.

“They coming for ya,” the man told him.

Midnight’s heart dropped as tears prickled at the corner of his eyes. This was it. He had been caught. They wouldn’t let him survive this time. No, they’d make an example out of him. They’d string him up somewhere for all to see. To make sure everyone knew what their fate would be should they seek to follow in Midnight’s footsteps.

“Help me,” he begged.

The man stared at him for what appeared to be forever. He knew what he was asking of the man. If he was caught helping him, he would be hung or beaten as well. Midnight hated asking that of him, but he didn’t know what else to do. He couldn’t go back. The man looked around and then back at Midnight before finally nodding.

“Stay down,” the man told him quickly. “And no matter what you hear or see, don’t make a sound.”

Midnight nodded as he quickly readjusted his coverings. His heart thumped loudly as he heard the sound of horses approaching their location. The dogs were now barking and growling. His mind shifted to the bystander. He worried for him. Would he be subject to Midnight’s fate as well? The bystander didn’t deserve that. He briefly thought about giving himself up when he heard the horses stop moving.

“You, boy, what you doing out here by yourself?” Midnight recognized the voice of the overseer.

“I’s collecting firewood, sir,” the slave replied. “I was ‘bout to chop up this wood, but dem dogs sure did scare me.”

“Hold on, boy,” a man stated, and Midnight heard footsteps retreating.

Midnight remembered the sound of that man’s voice. He was the one in charge of the dogs. His heart skipped another beat as he imagined the dogs mauling him to death. However, the dogs weren’t going after him, they had been going toward the stranger. It appeared that they were mistaking his scent for Midnight’s.

“You seen anyone come through here?” the overseer asked with a menacing tone, which quickly brought Midnight out of his thoughts.

“No, sir, but I did think I might’ve heard something coming from over that way?”

Midnight could see the stranger raise his hand and point in the opposite direction of their current location. The overseer and his men turned and started going down that route. Midnight stayed completely still until he no longer heard the horses or dogs.

“It’s safe now,” the man told him as he picked up his ax.

Midnight rose from his stooped position and brushed off the debris. He towered over the man. The man seemed unfazed, which he was thankful for. His size was one of the reasons he was beat so often. His mama, before she died, had told him that he intimidated them, which was why they beat him so much. They needed to keep him in his place. His strength was an asset but also a curse.

“Where ya gonna go?” the man asked him.

Midnight blinked out of his thoughts and shrugged. “Not quite sure; away from here that’s for sure.”

“Head west until you reach the river.” He motioned in the direction he thought he should go. “Only travel at night. They ain’t gonna come looking for ye after nightfall.” Midnight nodded and the man continued, “You follow the river to Louisiana.”

“I need to get as far from Mississippi as I can, how’s going to Louisiana gonna help me?” Midnight questioned, frustrated.

“If you can get to New Orleans,” he said with a slight nod of his head as if he were working it out. He looked directly at Midnight with a seriousness on his face.  “I’ve heard that there is a powerful witch doctor there. She goes by the name of Miss Philomena. She might be able to help you find safe passage somewhere.”

“A witch doctor,” he mumbled, scratching his head slightly.

He supposed it couldn’t hurt to talk to someone with magic. A lot of the men and women at the plantation swore by witch doctors. He had no opinion either way.  He wasn’t exactly sure how one could help him, but he figured it certainly couldn’t hurt to ask.

“Just be careful what you ask for,” the man said, once again drawing Midnight out of his thoughts.

“Whatcha mean by that?” Midnight asked, confused.

The man got a contemplative expression on his face before speaking again. “I’ve heard that people like her will try and trick you if they can.”

“Trick you how?”

The man shrugged. “That’s just what I heard.”

“You ever go to one?”

He shook his head before bringing his ax down on one of the fallen branches. “I never had a need for one.”

“It’s a long ways to go. Do ya wanna come with me? Time would go by faster with some company.”

The man once again shook his head. “Got my family here, can’t leave ‘em behind, but you go on now, before them fellas come back through here looking for ya.”

Midnight nodded. “Thank you for your help.”

The man waved him off as he continued to chop wood. Midnight didn’t hesitate. He couldn’t think about him, other than to be thankful for some good people in the world. In his mind, there seemed to be so few of them. He was still tired from the night before, but he knew he needed to get at least to the river.

Midnight stayed behind the trees as much as possible, trying to avoid being out in the open in the broad daylight. He wasn’t exactly sure how far the river was from where he was but he knew he needed to get there as quickly as possible. He had tried to run but that proved difficult with all the trees, so he strode as swiftly as he could. He wasn’t sure how long he had walked but it had been a long time.

“We better get back, my mama will be looking for me,” a young girl said, stopping Midnight in his tracks. He ducked behind some bushes, praying he hadn’t been seen.

“Darlin’, they know you’re with me,” a young man responded with the arrogance only privilege could give.

“I’m not sure how they will feel about us being out here all alone,” she stated flirtatiously.

“Trust me.”

“I do, Wilfred,” she replied with a giggle. “But if we’re found there will be hell to pay.”

“Shh, my love. It will be okay.”

Midnight peeked toward the sounds and saw a young couple, lying on a blanket near the river’s edge. The man was kissing her. Midnight looked around in a slight panic, hoping there were no other people around. He hid farther behind the bushes. There was nowhere for him to go so he’d have to wait it out. He breathed in slowly, happy that he had at least made it to the river. He positioned himself so that he’d be hidden and soon found himself sleeping again.

Midnight wasn’t sure how long he had slept but when he blinked his eyes open, darkness was all around him. His body ached all over. He stretched slowly, trying to get the kinks out of his joints, and felt the slow burn of the recent marks on his back. He flinched and took several deep breaths, trying to will the pain away. After a few moments, he peeped through the brush to see if the young couple was still there.

“Gone.” He smiled, relieved. “Good.”

He got to his knees and looked around. He didn’t see any fire light or lanterns. He could hear the gentle cadence of the river. It was peaceful. He wanted to sit there and listen but knew he needed to do as the man had suggested and walk at night. He stood up completely and stretched his long legs before pushing forth into the night.

2 Strange Bedfellows

Midnight followed the winding Mississippi River for five days. He wasn’t sure how far he had gone, or if he had already entered the Louisiana border but he kept walking. He tried to stay close to the river. He found its gentle cadence comforting. He stopped suddenly, hearing a noise not far from where he was. He looked at the ground for a weapon and picked up a large rock. Whatever was there, maybe he could scare it away.

“Stay calm,” he whispered to himself.

He tried his best to control his fear when a large wolf stepped through the trees. It was larger than any wolf he had ever seen. Its sable fur glistened in the moonlight. It stared at him with amber eyes that were hypnotizing. Midnight lowered the hand holding the rock. He wasn’t sure why, but there was something about the wolf that made him feel calm, as if he knew it wouldn’t harm him.

“I’m only passing through,” he told the wolf, not sure why he felt that was necessary to say.

The wolf continued to watch him. Midnight got the distinct impression that he was being assessed, which he found amusing. There was no way he could hurt the animal, if anything the wolf would likely tear him to shreds if it came down to a fight. Moments later, the wolf lifted its head and howled. Seven more wolves stepped through the trees. All were large but none as enormous as the first one. Midnight couldn’t help but admire their beauty before fear set in.

“I mean you no harm.” He slowly dropped the rock and raised his hands in a conciliatory manner, hoping it conveyed that he was not there to hurt them. “I escaped and am trying to get away from the people who enslaved me.”

He couldn’t believe he was telling a pack of wolves this information but there was something about them that seemed different. The way they looked at him wasn’t like anything he had ever seen before.  The lead wolf twisted its head in both directions, small sounds emanated from its mouth. They were almost human like in the way they communicated with each other. He took a small step back, making a sound that caused all the wolves to look in his direction. He stopped immediately, trying to control his breathing as the alpha walked toward him.

“I just want to leave,” he pleaded. “I can only travel at night and need to get as far as I can.”

The wolf started to run. It was too late for him to get out of the way, so he did the first thing that popped into his mind. He crouched and covered himself as best as he could from what was sure to be an attack. His adrenaline pumped through him. He figured he was strong and had taken the whip many times. His back and shoulders could surely take the clawing of wolves, at least for a little bit, and then he could maybe catch the wolf by surprise and get away.

“Sorry, Mama,” he said to himself, fearing that the end was near. “I did my best.”

Oddly enough, the attack didn’t come. Instead, he heard several more footsteps running by him on either side, as if he were a stone they were running around. He was confused, and with a deep breath, he rose from his crouched position. He turned around slowly to see all of the wolves in front of him. Some were sitting, looking at him curiously while others were standing, impatiently.

“What’s … going on?”

The alpha stared at him. Midnight got the distinct impression he wanted to tell him something. He growled at the other wolves. Those sitting rose to their feet and got in line behind the alpha who had turned its back to them. His mama once told him that wolves were like people, and that the leader was like a parent. He always thought that was strange, but maybe it wasn’t so far off. The lead wolf looked over his shoulder at him.

“You want me to follow you?” Midnight questioned, confused.

The wolf nodded its head slowly and then started to run. Midnight stood there for a moment, in shock, before he started running. The wolves were fast, and it was hard to keep up with them. After running for several minutes, the alpha slowed down and started to walk, which Midnight was extremely thankful for, he could conserve his energy.

“Hold on,” Midnight said, catching his breath.

It had already been several long hours of walking. He needed to rest. He was tired and hungry. He hadn’t eaten in a couple of days, and with all the energy expelled each day, it was starting to take its toll. He dropped to his knees. He just needed to rest for a few moments. He heard footsteps and looked to see that the wolves were gone.

“I don’t blame ‘em,” he muttered to himself.

He rested for a few more minutes, and then rose to his feet and walked over to the river. Cupping his hands, he drank a few sips, feeling immediately better. He was still hungry, but the water was refreshing. He saw movement in the water and reached in to try to grab the nearby fish. He tried repeatedly but wasn’t quick enough. He laid on his back frustrated.

“Used to be able to catch fish by hand all the time, but now when I need to, I can’t,” he stated, frustrated.

He closed his eyes, hoping to rest for a short time, and then try again. Perhaps he was too tired and that was interfering with his reflexes. Sleep came quick. He opened his eyes when he heard a noise and panicked, remembering he was out in the open. As his eyes opened, he still saw the moon above him. He sat up and looked toward the noise.

He smiled. “You’re back.”

The wolf approached him. That’s when he realized there was something in its mouth. Blood was dripping from the wolf’s mouth, and fear rose within him. Had it killed someone when it left him? The wolf got closer and dropped the meat on Midnight’s lap. He stared down at it. It didn’t look human. There were still bits of fur on one side of it.

“You got this for me?” Midnight asked hesitantly.

The wolf blinked its eyes and walked away. Midnight turned his head and saw the other wolves lounging, licking their paws. Midnight rose to his feet and quickly grabbed what he needed to start a small fire. He was thankful that he had been taught how to do this. He didn’t have a knife but used a sharper rock to help remove the skin from the chunk of meat. He then poked a long stick through the meat and cooked it over the fire.

“This looks like it’s about done,” he stated after it had been cooking for a while.

The meat was piping hot, and even though he was starving, he knew he had to wait a little bit before he could eat it. He laid the meat on some leaves and stared at it, begging it to cool. After a few minutes, he tapped the exterior of the meat and nodded. It was cool enough. He took a large bite and recognized the taste of deer.

He smiled at the wolves who were watching him with interest. “It could use some seasonings but it’s still very tasty. Mighty thankful to you for thinking of me.”

The lead wolf lowered its head and then made some type of sound to the other wolves who laid down. In truth, Midnight wasn’t paying attention, he was focused on eating. It was strange to him that he didn’t feel hungry until he started eating. It was then that he truly realized how famished he was. Once he had finished eating, he carefully extinguished his fire and made sure that no one would know anyone had been there.

He looked over at the wolves. “Thanks again for your help. I need to keep moving. I’m not sure how far it is to New Orleans, but I need to put some more miles in and find a spot where I can hide when the sun comes up. I’ve come too far to have someone find me now,” he finished determinedly.

The lead wolf rose from its laying position and looked at the other wolves who all rose to their feet. Midnight watched as the wolf motioned with its head to follow them. They were moving away from the river. He stood there contemplating. He had specifically been told to follow the river, not follow a bunch of wolves into the brush.

“If they was gonna hurt you, they would have done so already,” he scolded himself.

He sighed and followed them through the wooded terrain. It became darker the farther he went in, and he started to worry he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the wolves. He shouldn’t have thought that though since they waited every time he lagged behind. They travelled what appeared to be a great distance and then stopped. He was hoping they were where they needed to be because the sun was already coming up over the horizon. That caused a great fear to dwell within him.

“Where are we?” he finally asked.

The wolves stepped away so he could walk between them. The lead wolf bowed its head at a small opening. Midnight smiled. They had led him to a cave. He briefly worried that maybe a bear or another animal was inside, and then he realized they would not have led him there if there were any danger in the cave.

“Thank you,” Midnight told the lead wolf and stooped so that he could step inside.

The air was nice in the cave, and the ground was soft under his feet. The ceiling was low so he continued to crouch and then eventually got on his knees so that he could crawl farther. There was scant light inside, just the small amount that peeked in from the opening. He positioned himself near one of the walls and faced the entrance. If someone did come, he wanted to see them first.

“Good night,” he said with a yawn to the wolves who had also entered the cave.

He wasn’t sure why he kept talking to them as if they understood him. Perhaps it was because he was lonely. The absolute quiet was starting to get to him. The wolves didn’t make a lot of noise. In his mind, he thought they would be howling and barking throughout the whole journey, but they didn’t. Somehow, they communicated with minimal verbal interaction with one another. He wondered why that was. He was suddenly very curious about wolves, realizing he didn’t know much about them. He noticed the alpha sitting near the entrance, watching.

“I hope you get some rest too,” Midnight said to it, thankful for its leadership.

The wolf glanced over at him briefly, and then turned back to watch. It’s ears up and at attention, listening for anything. He wondered how long the wolf would stay there, looking out for everyone, but his need for sleep was too profound to ponder it any further. He took a couple of deep breaths, like his mama taught him to do when he was restless. His mind started to settle. He had a feeling that he would end up dreaming vividly about running with wolves.

“Is it nighttime?” Midnight asked, hearing the lead wolf howl.

Midnight, like the other wolves, rose and followed the alpha outside the cave. Midnight could tell that it was dusk. He stretched his long body. He wasn’t as stiff as he normally was. Sleeping in the cave had been the best sleep he’d gotten in a long while. He wasn’t exactly sure why but had the feeling that having the wolves protecting him was the reason. He moved to the side of the cave to relieve himself and then caught up with the pack. As they walked toward the river, he was surprised that they weren’t as far away as he initially thought.

“Last night, it really felt like we were far from the river,” he laughed to himself.

The wolf right in front of him glanced back with a disapproving look. Midnight nodded at him and kept his mouth shut the rest of the way. Once they arrived, he walked to the water’s edge and drank. He was thirsty after eating so heartily the night before. Once he had his fill, he rose to his full height and looked down river. He needed to get a move on it while he had the strength. He sighed slightly before turning to his new friends, prepared to part ways. Before he could say anything, the pack walked around him to form a line, as they had done the night before.

“You are not obligated to lead me to New Orleans,” he told the lead wolf when it looked back at him.

Midnight swore that the wolf smiled, but that was impossible. He was starting to see things. He shook his head as it turned around and howled before starting its trek. Midnight followed the pack as it weaved along the river’s edge. They would stop every so often to hydrate, and then continue once again. When the sun finally peaked over the horizon, Midnight and the wolves found an area covered by trees for them to rest. He knew that no one would find them there.

“Why are you helping me?” Midnight asked as he laid on the soft grass near the lead wolf.

The wolf looked down at him. Midnight could tell by the gentleness in its eyes that he wanted to speak to him. Maybe the wolf felt sorry for him. Had it helped others this way? That seemed a little crazy to him, but these wolves didn’t act like normal wolves. The wolf turned away from him and looked onward. Too bad wolves couldn’t talk like the stories he overheard being told to the master’s children.

“We sure do make strange bedfellows,” he whispered to the wolf with a chuckle.

He grinned as he rolled over. He wasn’t very tired yet. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. His body was tired from the long journey today, but his mind was swirling with all sorts of thoughts. As usual, most of those thoughts were of his mama. He wondered what she would think of all of this. She’d likely laugh and tell him God had sent him some help, and to take it willingly. He glanced over at the wolf again. He was indeed thankful. He watched the wolf for a long time before willing his tired body to sleep.

3 Enter Philomena

Midnight traveled with the wolves for eight days. They had a good system. They’d walk for several hours at night, resting in between to drink water and relax, and then walk some more. They didn’t eat every night, but when the alpha could see that Midnight needed nourishment, the wolves would hunt. As the sun started to rise each day, they would veer off the trail and the wolves would miraculously find a safe spot for them to sleep and prepare for the next night. Tonight had been no different.

“I wonder how much longer it will be?” he stated aloud, as he and the wolves stopped for the night.

The alpha looked over at him and then continued to drink. Midnight chuckled. He probably would have already been there if he had met the wolves sooner. With only about ten hours of nightfall to travel, he figured they were averaging about eight to ten miles every night. It had been a long walk and he was tired. His legs ached something fierce, but it was too late for him to turn back.

“That’s my cue.” Midnight smiled when the alpha walked past where Midnight was resting.

The line started to form behind the lead wolf, with Midnight taking up the rear. The wolves didn’t run. They knew he couldn’t keep up with their pace, so they simply walked. He still couldn’t believe that he was traveling with the wolves, and that they were essentially taking care of him. It was a miracle anyway you looked at it. He would arrive soon enough, and thanks to the wolves, he’d arrive in one piece.

“That sunrise sure is beautiful,” Midnight said when they secured their resting place.

He hid behind some bushes while the wolves rested around him, blocking his view from anyone should they decide to come by the area. He didn’t fall asleep right away. It was too difficult to sleep now. He rested so frequently that when it was time to sleep; it often took him a while. Instead, he looked up into the blue sky, marveling at the clouds passing above him. He never had much chance to observe the beauty in the sky when he was on the plantation. He often wished he could walk in the daylight and see all the vibrant colors not muted by the darkness.

“So beautiful,” he remarked as a cluster of clouds rolled across the sky above him.

Midnight continued to watch the sky, daydreaming about a time where he could walk freely, unafraid of being found or worried that he would be killed, or worse, be enslaved again. When sleep finally came, he found himself blissfully engaged in dreams of joy and happiness. That is until the growling of the wolves woke him up.

“What is it?” he whispered instinctively.

The alpha shot a warning look his way and he shut his mouth. His heart raced uncontrollably, and his breathing became erratic. This was amplified when he heard it. A voice. A couple of them. He couldn’t make out what they were saying but they didn’t sound angry or upset. It wasn’t his master’s voice, for he would forever be haunted by that sound, but that didn’t mean he was safe from harm. He wanted to run but knew that would surely not go well for him. He kept still, hoping the wolves could take care of whatever danger was nearby.

“Well, lookie here,” a voice said in surprise.

He could see through the bushes that there were three men. All the wolves were on their feet, growling, and ready to lunge. A different kind of fear rose within him. He couldn’t bear it if something terrible happened to any of his newfound friends. He had grown attached to them. He wanted to jump up and attack the men, but he waited to see what would happen.

“They must have some cubs in there the way they’re all guarding that bush,” one of the men said.

“Let’s take a look,” another one replied as he took a couple of steps forward.

The alpha and two others immediately lunged forward, snarling their teeth at the men. The three men jumped back. Midnight could see their fear, which made him smile happily. That is, until one of the men raised a gun, aiming it toward the lead wolf. Midnight crouched, ready to leap out when one of the men put his hand on the rifle and lowered it.

“What are you doing?” the man holding the rifle asked furiously.

“Leave ‘em be, brother, they’re just protecting they babies,” he said with a tenderness that Midnight hadn’t heard from a white man before.

“Come on, we need to be heading back before sunset,” the third man interjected. “I don’t want to be out here when it gets dark, especially with that big ole wolf over there nearby.” His body shuddered slightly at the mere thought of running into these wolves again.

The three men moved back through the trees and headed toward where Midnight knew the river was. He didn’t move, just in case the men heard and came after him. He watched the wolves for their reaction. They were still tense, which meant that the men were not far away. When the wolves finally sat at ease, he came out from his hiding spot.

“That was close,” he muttered. He looked in the direction the men went and then back at the wolves. “Just so you know, I was ready to attack those men if they had hurt any one of you.”

The wolf stared at him for a long moment and nodded slowly, before motioning its head toward Midnight’s hiding place. He chuckled and walked back over to where he had been. He laid back down but wasn’t sure if he’d be able to sleep or not. His brain was still running through all the possibilities that could have happened.

“I sure hope this Philomena lady will be able to help me,” he sighed.

After lying awake for a few hours, he was able to finally fall asleep again. His dreams were restless this time around. No walking through the day unhindered by fear, this time around, he felt himself running for dear life against dangers he couldn’t see. When he startled himself awake, he realized that the sun was just about to set.

He blinked several times, getting his bearings. “Bad dreams,” he told the wolf when it turned to look at him.

Later that evening, they started their trek once more. They all seemed on edge. The encounter with the men appeared to have rattled all of them. They had been walking for a few hours when the alpha stopped. The other wolves sat in place. They didn’t appear concerned, but Midnight was. They hadn’t been walking long enough to need a rest.

“What’s wrong?” he asked anxiously. He broke rank and walked up to the lead wolf.

The wolf didn’t respond to his breach of protocol. It steadfastly looked forward. Midnight followed the wolf’s gaze and gasped. They were standing not far from what was indeed a town. The lights shone brightly below him. That had to be New Orleans. It wasn’t far at all. He could easily get there this evening, early enough to find this witch doctor and get his spell.  He jumped up happily.

“I can’t believe I made it,” he exclaimed, jumping for joy. He turned to the wolf. “Thank you for everything, my friend.”

The other wolves approached, sitting around the lead wolf. It would be hard to say goodbye to all of them, they had been his companions on this long journey, but he knew he had to let them go. Wolves certainly wouldn’t be welcome in town, and he didn’t want them hunted or killed. He placed his hand over his heart and then waved at them.

“I will never forget y’all.”

With those final words, he turned and headed toward what he hoped would be his salvation. He started running, weaving through the trees before reaching the outskirts of town. He breathed in, deeply. His heart was beating wildly with both excitement and fear. He wasn’t sure what to expect but hoped it would be the outcome he wanted so desperately. He had come so far. He deserved that. He glanced down at his tattered clothes and frowned. He looked around him.

“Maybe I can find clothes somewhere before I go meet her,” he wondered aloud.

He walked slowly, following the sounds of music and activity. Unfortunately, there weren’t any clothes that he could find. He tucked his ripped shirt into his pants, which had also seen better days. Surprisingly, no one seemed to notice him at all. They were too busy with their drinks and women to pay him no mind. He started walking a little more deliberately, still not sure where he was going. 

“You looking fer something?” a man asked, startling Midnight.

Midnight stood still, trying to remain calm, but preparing to run if need be. The man was a bit older and wobbly on his feet. He’d obviously been drinking alcohol. That could be good or bad. He’d found that people are either extremely mean or extremely nice when alcohol was involved. He hoped it was the latter.

“A lady named Philomena,” he answered hesitantly. 

The man nodded. “Two streets over. Her shop’s at the end of the block. Ye can’t miss it.”

Midnight looked both ways and then back at the man. The man motioned his hand in the correct direction. Midnight nodded at him and then started walking briskly toward Philomena. He found her shop immediately. The window next to the door had her name on it, with the moons and stars surrounding it. He could see a nearly see-thru black curtain behind it, pushed to the side, so people could get a glimpse of the inside of the shop. He smiled and walked across the street.

“Well, ain’t this something?”

He stepped through the door and took in his surroundings. He walked over to a shelf that held bottles of various herbs, and on the next shelf there were several little figurines of different animals. He touched the wolf and smiled, remembering his friends who had helped him reach his destination safely. He then picked up a horse standing on its hindquarters. He turned it around in his fingers, admiring its features. It was beautiful. He set it down when he noticed sacks of what looked like insects. He touched a bag and pulled his fingers away when it moved.

“They’re used for spells,” a woman’s voice said.

“Oh,” he fumbled.

In front of him stood a small African woman. She had a head full of hair that she held back with a colorful scarf, whose ends fell almost to the floor. She was wearing a multicolored dress, and when he looked at her feet, she wasn’t wearing any shoes. She walked past him to the shelf he had been at, eyeing the horse figurine. She stroked the figurine, with a sly smile on her face. She glanced over at him.

“I can see that you need a spell,” she said in a slithering tone that made the hair on his arms rise. 

“I, yes, I, um, do,” he stammered. 

She nodded. “Follow me.”

She turned and started walking toward the back of the store, with Midnight following close behind. He had an eerie feeling in the pit of his stomach, and questioned whether he should do this or not, but he’d already come too far to turn back. After all that he had been through, he should at least hear her out. If he didn’t like what she said, he would just leave. He’d have to figure out another way.

“In here,” she said, stepping through several rows of dangling beads where a door should be.

Midnight parted the beaded strands and stepped through, into a small parlor. A round table sat in the middle of the room with two chairs facing each other on opposite ends of it. There was a lace tablecloth on it, with a large candle in the middle, surrounded by four smaller ones. He watched as she lit the candles.

“Sit,” she ordered after she had finished lighting the last candle on the table.

He took a seat nervously, noticing the wall behind her. The shelves were filled with numerous jars. Way too many for him to count. Some were filled with herbs, like the ones in the shop, while others had what looked like small insects. The others held what he could only describe as deformed creatures. His heart began to race. When his eyes came back to her, she was staring at him.

“What do you need?” she asked with a small smirk.

He took a small breath and swallowed. “Well, ma’am, I be needing a way to walk in the daylight without being recognized.” She didn’t respond right away, so he continued, “I have people after me and traveling at night all the time is hard. I want to be able to continue on my journey without the fear of being captured.”

“And what will you give me in return?” she questioned with an inquiring expression.

“Well, I don’t have no money,” he replied woefully.

She smiled. “Money isn’t always required, my boy.” She tilted her head at him. “What is your name?”

“Midnight, ma’am,” he replied.

She stared at him with a creepy smile on her face. Finally, she started to speak again. “I can help you, Midnight, and in return you must help me.”

“How?” he asked curiously.

“I could use someone with your talent,” she chuckled. 

“Uh, sure,” he instantly replied. 

If he wasn’t recognizable, he didn’t see the harm in it. She rose from her sitting position and began gathering items from the shelves. She had her back to him, but he could tell that she was mixing all the ingredients together. She then went to a cold box and grabbed a clear bottle with black liquid inside it. She poured the liquid in the mixture and started to chant. When she was finished, she turned to him. She placed the small glass on the table between them.

“Remember, we have a deal,” she said, and then added, “When you have fulfilled your debt to me, I will free you.”

He felt a little uneasy at the free him part. Was he in servitude again? That didn’t sound like a good deal to him. Perhaps he should not go through with this. There had to be a better way. Before he could ponder it further, she started talking again.

“If you do not follow through with your end of the deal, there will be repercussions,” she warned.

“What kind?” he asked, fear started to swell inside him.

She sneered, “You will never find the solace you seek.”

He stared at her and then down at the potion on the table. He wasn’t sure what her threat meant, but he imagined it couldn’t be that bad. He had never known solace in his life, so him never having it seemed a small price to pay. He met her gaze once again and nodded.

She pushed the concoction in front of him. “Drink.”

He picked up the glass and studied it closely. It looked like some form of swamp water. He brought it to his nose to smell it, and immediately regretted that decision. It smelled of rotting flesh and death. He couldn’t imagine that it tasted any good. Finally, he closed his eyes and took a sip. 

“This is awful.”

“You must drink it all,” she replied nonchalantly. She raised her hand and spoke. “From henceforth, this mortal man shall be Alastor from dawn until dusk, and a mortal man once more from dusk until dawn. This cycle shall continue until he is released from this spell.”

As she spoke, he plugged his nose and closed his eyes again, somehow not seeing what he was drinking helped. He gulped down the disgusting liquid. He felt as if the entire thing would come back up, but it didn’t. He started breathing heavily. When he was sure he wouldn’t regurgitate the potion, he slowly opened his eyes.

“Now we wait,” she told him.

“How long will it take to know if the potion worked?” Midnight asked impatiently. 

She stood up and smiled at him. “By the second morning, you will have your answer.”

“What do I do in the meantime?” he questioned, confused.

She grinned slightly. “You may stay in my back room until the potion sets in.”

He smiled. “Thank you, ma’am.”

She smirked and stood up, motioning for him to follow her. She showed him to a room down the hall. It was a simple space with a mattress on the floor. There was a stack of clothes sitting atop a dresser, and a blanket splayed near the head of the mattress. He smiled again. It would be nice to sleep in a bed for once.

“This is mighty fine of you,” he told her.

“Help yourself to any of the clothes that might fit you.”

She stepped out of the room and Midnight walked over to where the clothes were lying. He rummaged through them and found a pair of pants that would fit him and a clean shirt. Once changed, he lay on the mattress. He still felt a bit queasy but suspected that was due to the potion he had drank. He hoped that would pass, and that the spell would work.

4 Changes

Midnight spent the next day and a half doing odd jobs for Philomena. She was an interesting character, and so were the people that entered her shop. They all appeared to be desperate for her help. None cared that he was around, which surprised him. Usually, his size frightened people but he guessed their need for a spell outweighed any possible fear they might have. 

“Get some sleep,” she told him and then grinned. “I have a feeling tomorrow will be a big day for you.”

He smiled, something he generally didn’t do. “Yes, Ms. Philomena.  I can’t wait to wake up.”

She laughed joyfully and clapped her hands. “Yes, tomorrow will be very exciting.”

He nodded as he took his leave and went back to his room. He was restless, not sure what exactly would be happening but knowing that no matter what, in the morning he would be truly free. At least, that was what he was hoping for. Sleep took a while to happen but when it did, it was perfect, filled with beautiful dreams of freedom. 

“Wake up, Midnight,” Philomena’s rushed voice said.

Midnight shot up quickly. He looked around, settling on her face. “What’s going on?”

“There’s a special plant that must be picked at sunrise,” she said with urgency. “We need to hurry.”

“Oh, okay,” he replied sleepily. 

She walked out of the room, and he stretched before finally standing. He thought it weird that she needed him to pick some strange plant, but he would go along willingly. She was quirky, and in the short time he’d known her, she’d done some strange things. He changed into his work clothes and exited the room.

When he came to her in the garden, she smiled up at him. “Are you ready, my boy?”

He nodded. He was ready for just about anything. He followed her out of the garden with an extra hop in his step. They began walking toward the wooded area. He looked around confused. Why would they need to be way out here? They had never gone out this far before. There was a little uneasiness in his stomach, but he ignored it.

“This should be fine,” she said, stopping, and looking toward the sun, which was starting to peek over the horizon.

Midnight stood with his hands on his hips. “Whatcha need me to help you with?” he asked, perplexed.

She turned around to face him, and then pointed to the sky. “Sun’s coming up. How are you feeling?”

He furrowed his brows at her. That seemed a strange question to ask. “I feel fine. What should I be feeling?”

She frowned. “Maybe there was something wrong with the spell. Did I word it incorrectly?” she mumbled to herself.

Midnight started to ask her what she meant by that but before he could, he started to feel funny inside. His stomach lurched and he dropped to his knees. There was a tingling sensation inside him that echoed throughout his body. The tingling sensation then turned to extreme pain. He felt as if his body were being ripped from the inside out. What was happening to him? This was worse than any beating he had ever gotten. His head flew up, and his eyes met Philomena.

“What have you done to me?” He screeched in pain.

She smiled. “I gave you what you wanted.”

Philomena started laughing riotously. He couldn’t respond though because his body felt completely off, as if it weren’t his own. This sense of fear swelled inside of him. He found himself running, faster than he had ever run before, entering an area that was mostly grass. His peripheral vision could see movement alongside him. Something was chasing him, on the left and right. He got the distinct impression that he was about to die. That thought caused him to run even faster. Moments later, his fear was realized when a pack of wolves surrounded him. A sound came out of his mouth that couldn’t possibly have come from him. What was happening to him? He didn’t understand any of this.

“Whoa, settle down, Midnight.”

He stopped when he heard his name called. An older African woman had stepped out from the trees, her hands reaching out to him in a gentle way. He tilted his head at her in utter confusion. Who was this woman and how did she know his name?

“How do you know me?” he said, well, at least that’s the way it sounded in his head.

“I know this is going to sound very strange to you,” she told him as she continued to cautiously approach him. “Trust me when I say that you know me.”

Midnight shook his head vigorously and found himself stomping his feet, which seemed like an off thing to do. “I don’t know you,” he protested in a sound that wasn’t his.

She sighed and raised her hands to the wolves that had surrounded him, keeping him in place. They all came over to her, sitting in relaxed positions behind the woman. There was a familiarity to their behavior that he couldn’t quite place.

“My name is Adelaide,” she began. “You spent time with me and my family,” she stared at him, begging him with her eyes to understand what she was saying to him.

Midnight’s eyes grew wide as realization started to set in. Was it possible that these were the same wolves that had protected him on his journey to New Orleans? Was she the alpha, the leader, who looked out for him? How could that be?

“You’ve been changed,” she told him calmly.

“Changed, how?” he replied as he continued to stomp his feet. Unsure why he was doing it or why she couldn’t understand what he was trying to say to her.

“Follow me, Midnight.”

Just like that, she kneeled. She slipped off the dress she had been wearing and changed into the wolf he knew her to be. She started toward the woods again, while another wolf picked up the dress in its mouth and motioned for Midnight to follow. Midnight didn’t hesitate. While there was a part of him that was scared, a bigger part of him trusted her and the wolves unquestionably. He followed them until they reached the river. She motioned her head toward the water.

Midnight hesitantly walked over to the water’s edge. He looked at his reflection and quickly backed up.  He tried to step farther back but the alpha moved behind him and nudged him forward again. He didn’t want to look, but knew he had to. He stared at his reflection in shock. He had been turned into a large horse. While majestic and beautiful, this was not what he wanted. That evil witch had changed him into this. She had tricked him. He started stomping his hooves. Water splashed around as he shook his head angrily, snorting his nose in frustration and rage. 

“I will try to help you,” he heard Adelaide say.

His head shot around to look at her. She had changed into a woman again. He knew she meant well but he couldn’t understand how she thought she could help him at all. He was a damn horse. The last he knew, people didn’t understand what horses were saying. 

“Shifting can be done at will, but it can also happen when we become over excited. You will learn how to control it.”

Control it! He didn’t want to learn how to control it. He wanted to be a man again. Not this creature. That witch hadn’t even turned him into a predator that could protect itself. No, she turned him into an animal that would be preyed upon.  

“Do you remember the sensation you felt when you first shifted?” the woman asked, drawing his attention back to her.

Midnight nodded his head. He’d never forget it. She started to explain that he needed to do it again, except this time, he needed to picture himself as a human, to remember what it felt like to have two arms and two legs. What it felt like to walk and speak. To eat and sleep. She told him to change back, to will it to happen.

“It’s not working, I can’t do it,” he neighed after trying several times with no luck.

“It will take time.” She looked at the wolves who had been watching them curiously and then back at Midnight. “Stay here. It will be dark soon, and we need to find a safe place for you to rest.”

He watched as the wolves departed the area. Once they were gone, he found himself grazing. It was a weird sensation being a horse. He had all the thoughts and feelings of a man and that of a horse as well. This would take some getting used to. The wolves were not gone long. Of course, he had no real concept of time. It could have been minutes or hours. Soon they were leading him to a space within the trees. They had found a large area that, if he was lying down, he wouldn’t be seen. The wolves would likely guard him as they did when he was a human.

He noticed that the woman was still in wolf form. He imagined that was for his protection. He had to admit that he had always imagined the alpha was a male wolf. How would he know the difference? It’s not like he looked to see. He briefly thought about his mama, and how she would probably have liked it that a woman had looked out for him. 

As the sun started to set, Midnight felt a queasiness enveloped him. He became wobbly on his four legs. He was unable to keep his balance. That tingling sensation he had felt before sifted through his body. Moments later, he dropped to his knees. His actual knees. He smiled at his hands. He looked up at Adelaide who had already shifted into a human again.

“I did it,” Midnight stated excitedly. 

“That’s wonderful,” she exclaimed happily. “How do you feel?”

“Very strange.” He paused, suddenly realizing he was naked. He covered himself. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

She laughed. “It’s okay, Midnight. It’s like that for all of us the first time.” She looked over to one of the wolves. “Bring over the clothes.” She smiled at him. “Everyone, please change into your human form and come join us.”

Midnight watched as, one by one, an eclectic group of people came to sit with him. There were different nationalities, both men and women. He noticed that there were two that were clearly a couple, but the rest seemed to be misfits. One of the former wolves handed him a pair of pants and shirt. Midnight gathered the clothes and swiftly dressed. 

“Are they your family?” he asked, sitting down again.

She nodded. “Yes, these are my kin.” She laughed when he gave her a puzzled expression. “Not by blood but we are bound to one another.” She waved her hands toward her pack. “We found each other, all of us lost and confused, changed against our will.”

“By Philomena?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, she has changed many over the years. Some find their way to packs who are born with the ability, while others go off alone. We chose to be a family.”

“There are people who do this naturally?” He was shocked by this.

She nodded. “When we mate with one another, there is the chance that our offspring will have the ability.”

“Did she make you commit to doing something for her?” he asked her.

“Some of us did.” Adelaide sighed before talking again, “Some paid to be changed, not realizing what she would do.”

“Can she change me back to being human again?” Midnight asked, trying to stay hopeful.

She shrugged sadly. “I know of no one who has been able to get her to do that.”

“Well…” He rose to his feet. “She’s about to make it happen for me, one way or another. I will not go through life like this.”

He breathed in deeply as determination flowed through him. He would need to go back and see her. He would make her turn him into a human again. He looked down at Adelaide. He could see her sadness in this decision, but he had to try. He moved past all of the people sitting and started back for New Orleans.

“Midnight, stop,” Adelaide shouted behind him.

He did and turned to her. “I need to do this.”

“She will hurt you if you cross her.”

He waved his hands in the air. “What worse thing could she possibly do to me?”

“You are new to this way,” she stated softly. “It will get easier, and more manageable if you give it some time.”

“You can’t help me with this,” he grumbled. “I’m not a wolf.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I know you mean well but I have to try to fix this. Maybe it’s not too late.”

“I fear it will only get worse if you go back there,” she lamented.

“Then, I guess I will have to deal with that, but I have to try to repair this mess,” he told her. He approached her and touched her cheek. “Thank you, for everything you’ve done for me.”

“Be careful.”

He smiled and nodded. “I will be as careful as I can.”

With that, Midnight turned and started to run. He wasn’t sure how long he would be a man. Philomena had told him nothing about the spell. He needed answers and the only way to get them was to confront Philomena again and make her tell him.