Excerpt from THE FANTISIZERS coming fall of 2020

"I'm an Ankte-what-ey"
"Anktere! You know, mortals call you were-wolves. In our language, that has another meaning." For some strange reason, the girl shuddered. I didn't know that witches could get scared of anything but water.
" What's it mean then?" I asked
" I don't want to say it."
She looked as if saying something foul, like prostitute. Little did I know that it was PRECISELY what that means. I immediately regreted asking.
"So... It's been... strange meeting you. Not that I enjoyed a second of it. Now this time, I am leaving without a scratch. If you'll excuse me..." I ducked under the makeshift table. They pulled out their wands, and pointed them at me. I meant to dodge, but instead, "TRY ME!!!" My body felt strange, and as they cowered, I ran. I made sure there were no giant killer Ank-whatevers, and made it to a large clearing next to a lake.
"okay," I said, "All I have to do is make sure I don't fall asleep as long as I live." I started pinching myself rapidly. "C'mon! C'MON! Wake up Matty boy, wake up!" I still thought I was dreaming. As I pinched myself, that strange feeling went through my body once more. It seemed like my stomach was rumbling and so was everything else. I couldn't take it anymore, so with one last pinch, "OW!!! What the hell?!" Large spikes emerged from my fingernails. No. THEY WERE MY NAILS! I began gagging. My whole body started to sprout hair. I coughed up a strange blood like liquid, not red, but black. I fell to the floor, writhing in agony, my nose connected to my mouth and became a muzzle. Blood was oozing from every pore on my face. I felt my spine extending out of my flesh, my feet and ears in just as much pain. As soon as it had started, it came to a halt. The pain had gone. the only reminder of my pain was the blood on the sand. I crawled to the water to see a wolf instead of my reflection. Little did I know it was me.