Bardolf loved talking to Violetta. He found her very comforting. When Bardolf told Violetta what happened to his parents, she would gasp, and give Bardolf a very sympathetic look that was more caring than condescending. When Bardolf told Violetta about how much he hated the orphanage, she would shake her little head in disbelief. Eventually, Violetta started reacting with words and gave him advice on his life. She validated his crime of killing John. Violetta was supportive when Bardolf was not lucky at killing his next victim. She would say things back to him like “It is not you that should be apologizing for these atrocious deeds. It is them that need to pay for what they have done.” “Eye for an eye.” “What’s a little harm in what will take place? You are just getting even for their wrongdoing.”

After hearing these things over and over during his story telling, he starts to feel vindicated. He takes a self-righteous attitude and decides he is going to get revenge.

Bardolf had been practicing hunting on the animals in the forest. He knew to attack when the creatures were vulnerable. Bardolf was afraid that maybe his unique gift would fail him in his time of need. He has learned that not every full moon changes him. He would start to transform when he was angry or very passionate. Violetta helps Bardolf find his inner rage. She teaches him how to harness the passion within. With passion from anger, there is a desire for love, and both can be very powerful.

Violetta is very calculated in everything she does. She is exquisite and very thoughtful towards Bardolf but deep inside she can be as evil and as vindictive as the people that murdered Bardolf’s family. She wants to harness love. She wants people to come to her and be all knowing. She realizes that people will listen to her. Bardolf is proof of that.

Through all the conversations that Violetta has had with Bardolf, she has realized and schemed that she wants to harness love and use it to manipulate everyone and everything. Violetta asks Bardolf that once he has found his first victim to please bring back a trinket. This trinket needs to be one that has a lot of wear and tear to show that it was used and loved all at the same time. She feels these possessions will give her the power that she needs to grow powerful.

He talks it out with Violetta on how to get a plan of attack. Violetta convinces Bardolf to go and to the village late at night. He needs to start preying on what family he wants to take as his victim during the day. He needs to be calculated not sloppy and careless about his attack. After all, Bardolf couldn’t afford to be caught. He is starting to get his life back on track.

Bardolf starts to go to the village during the day. He wanders the streets and listens to the conversations that the townsfolk are having. He tries to find the most rotten one out of everyone there. As Bardolf is wondering down the street, he sees a group of men standing around talking. He hears this man and how he treats his family. He is a cruel sort of person. He said that his wife is so incompetent that she can’t even get dinner on the dinner table in time for him when he comes home from work. He wanted to teach her a lesson, so when he got home last night, there was a pot of water boiling. There was no food in the pot yet for dinner. The cruel little man decided to pick up the pot and threw the boiling water all over her. He told her that if tomorrow he comes home and there is no dinner again she will be faced with the same punishment. He did not care what kind of pain she was feeling. That was for her to figure out not him. He then had his way with her and went to bed.

This man was a stout little round man. He had burlap pants on that were held up by a rope. He was balding and had a weasel like a face. He had on a very dirty linen shirt that was missing most of the buttons. As this round man was speaking one hand was tugging at the top of his trousers, so they did not fall while the other was wiping his nose with the back of his hand. He was so proud of his wrong doings. He was utterly repulsive.

Bardolf waits for him to disband from his brethren. He watches him in the shadows and follows him home.

Bardolf knows that he does not need the moon to change. His body is filled with so much rage he almost losses his temper there on the street. His cover would have been blown. He learned to control it and was very thankful for Violetta at this moment.

Bardolf follows this man to an old rundown apartment that only had one room. The kitchen and bedroom shared the same space. There was a sheet that was hung to separate the two. As Bardolf looked in, he saw the round man’s wife. She was lying still on the floor. Bardolf could not tell if she was alive or dead. Flies were circling her.

Bardolf cannot wait any longer. He goes into the building and the round man’s apartment. He barges in with such a fierceness. As Bardolf is barging in he undresses and puts his clothes on the floor. Bardolf begins to transform into the monster. The round man is standing in the in a room in complete disbelief. He is trembling, and all this stout little man can say is “Who, who, who….” Bardolf never said a word. In one quick swift movement of his hand, he sliced the man in his stomach with his long fingernails. He then did the same movement with his other hand but aimed for the neck. Bardolf sat on the floor and feasted on this round fat man.

Bardolf stayed until morning. He mourned for this poor women. He did her right. He had transformed back. Bardolf got dressed and headed out. Before he left, he took the women’s apron for Violetta. It was the only thing in the apartment that looked cared for. It was not wrinkled or crumpled. There were no rips or tears. It looks like it had been mended a couple of times but out of love.

Next Chapter: The Taking