Lucy’s POV.
Hunger. It’s the only thing that I can think about. The urge to feed is so strong that it makes me want to burst. Every fiber of my being is craving it. The one thing that could eventually save my life. Yeah, more like seal my doom. I have to feed but I made a promise; an oath that I wouldn’t do it.
“You have to feed Lu. The sooner, the better.” A tall figure stood looking down at me with concern.
Shaking at the thought, I answer. ”No.” It’s more of a growl.
He glares down at me as I sit huddled in the corner. I look back at him defiantly or tried to.
“Lu, so help me, I will shove it down your throat.”
“Lucy, you have to feed. It is not an option. Why are you reluctant anyway-” Marilyn stopped abruptly then narrows her ruby eyes at me. “It’s him isn’t it? All this,” she throws her arms in the air, “is for him?! That man, that animal-”
Before I realized it, I am halfway across the room, my claws deep in her throat. I can feel her windpipe. My left hand is in her chest inches from her heart. I hiss with fangs out and look her dead in the eye beyond her shocked expression.
“Don’t you ever call him that to my face because I will not be responsible for what happens.”
She can barely nod so I let go and I am back in my corner. Just on cue, I hear it. A howl. I rise and scowl at Marilyn who is still on the ground. Everyone in the room had heard the howl and knew what I was about to do. She was in front of me in a blink of an eye.
“No. You are not going anywhere. We are not done here!” Her wounds had begun to heal and her shirt was drenched in blood. I had no intention of killing her but hurt her I would. A lot. I would have replied coldly that I had no intention of asking for permission but I was really pissed off. I walk past her, bumping my shoulder against hers, and out into the night. The night air is cool and I inhale deeply feeling rejuvenated almost instantly. There’s a full moon and the night is full of noise from chirping insects and rustling leaves as nocturnal creatures move about. I bolt into the woods and come to a stop when it becomes unusually quiet. Too quiet; save the light breeze. I accidentally step on a dry branch breaking the silence as the noise returns. I realized immediately that it was my own undoing.
Seth’s POV.
Pain. I feel it everywhere. When the wind blows, it feels like a million tiny needles piercing my flesh. The pain comes and goes like a tidal wave. Right now it is at its highest intensity and I know that it’s almost over. Blood starts rushing through my veins and my breathing becomes rugged. Almost there…almost…there… The pain stops and my breathing becomes even. A howl pierces the still night and is followed by a rushing of feet is heard. I rush in pursuit of it. The race is on.
The hunt was successful. The howl alerted all the hunters of the hunt. Using a V- Formation tactic, we were able to secure game to last us through the next couple of days.
“Seth, my man, on point as usual.” Joe patted me on the back as we returned to the den after the hunt.
“It’s all in the timing, Joe, you should pay more attention during pouncing lessons.”
He grinned broadly. A short guy, hazel eyes, short dark brown hair. Masculine as befitted his nature and a scar running through his left eye on the left side of his face. A battle scar. A battle of life or death. He had been running in the woods with his mate when a cliff had seemingly appeared out of thin air. A construction site, a recent one. They had been unaware and she was determined to beat him in the race. As Joe had tried to grab her in human form and she in wolf form, she had scratched him on his face, unaware he tried to lift her up but he slipped and they both fell. She died due to cuts and internal hemorrhage from the fall. Joe broke a few bones but survived. His mate had been pregnant and this was a great loss to the pack and an even greater loss to him. No one spoke of the incident openly but we supported him.
“Speaking of pouncing lessons…” he said breaking my reverie. It was too late.
“Hey Seth!” a shrill voice proclaimed. It was Paton. I automatically rolled my eyes before facing her and faking enthusiasm.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Seth, don’t patronize me. We have a meeting in twenty, be there please?” I shrug. “Good enough.” She walks away. My escape is now. I leave the den and go to a clearing in the forest in my wolf form. My presence causes a silence to fall over the night. I sniff the air and know that I am not alone. I hide in the tall grass. A branch breaks. The intruder is near. I hold my breath ready to pounce.
Narrative.
From the woods, Lucy could see the yellow- green eyes and was quick enough to avoid the pouncing animal. They stood face to face as he watched her waiting to make a move. She’s paler than I expected, he realized. She eyed him blankly, a poker face, but she was taking him in. His black fur was glowing in the moonlight, beautiful eyes piercing her very soul as if revealing all her secrets. She made the first move and he leaped in the air to catch her but she spun and, arms wide open, grabbing him around his abdomen and they fell to the ground while rolling. He took advantage of this and managed to pin her under him. Fangs out, she hissed and slid out of his grip by kicking then punching him on the jaw. Shaking away the sting, he lurched at her and clawed at her hands and stomach and she began to bleed. They were now on their feet and were a few feet away from each other. She was angry and so was he. Running towards each other, they delivered their last major punches mid air. This created a force that threw them apart. They lay unmoving as the last blow had acquired its target. She got up first groaning as her body was still feeling the effects of the last punch.
He was in human form and he also managed to get up. Both were covered in blood and their wounds were yet to start healing. They walked towards each other. As the distance between them decreased, their pace increased and later turned into a full on sprint which ended in them embracing passionately.
“I missed you so much, you have no idea-” He shut her up with a kiss.
“The feeling is mutual fox.” She smiled up at him as he held her gaze.
“How was it?” She asked breaking from the intensity of the gaze which held so much promise. Realizing this, he played along.
“It was the same; only the scenery was more welcoming.” He replied emotionlessly.
She knew he left out a lot of information. The fights for survival and subduing of other packs
“That’s nice.”
She felt like an imposter standing there awkwardly acting like it was perfectly normal for a wolf and a vampire to be standing in a clearing talking. Perfectly normal, she thought. He turned and began walking away and she followed him in silence. The sky was blanketed with stars as the wind would occasionally blow gently. She watched his retreating back, one that radiated strength, both physically and emotionally. Well muscled, as his right, and ear-length dark glossy hair. She realized that he had not shaved and concluded that it matched his rugged exterior. He could feel her eyes on him practically boring a hot narrow hole through his back. He smiled absently to himself. They reached a cliff and he stopped suddenly and she almost bumped into him. At first they just watched the scenery, mainly the sky, but they had heightened vision too.
“You need to feed.”
“You need a shave.”
“Fox, I’m serious”
“So am I Sly, so am I.”
“Fine. I’ll shave.” He waited expectantly.
“No.”
“You don’t want me to shave? Then again, you always had a thing for rugged exteriors.” Her face fell and she felt like she had been smacked across the face.
“You sonofabitch!” She turned to leave when she realized it was all a trap. He grabbed her and wrestled her to the ground, her arms behind her and her face on the ground.
“Stop struggling! We both know that I will win because I am bigger and stronger than you.”
She knew he was telling the truth so she stilled and blankly stared ahead. She had felt eyes on her and was not surprised to see Marilyn stepping out of the shadows, sporting a clean shirt. The other vampires, who were in hiding, stepped into the moonlight. Jack approached them as Lucy was helped up. Jack held a bottle in his hand containing a dark liquid.
“Like I said, I will shove it down your throat.”
Lucy felt cornered. Seth sensed this and instinctively knew she was hurt, no bruised, by his betrayal and backing her into a corner. He had been in a similar situation before. They both had. Yet it seemed so long ago. He knew that she could and would fight but he had worn her out purposefully unlike when he would do so to train her and prepare her. If she ran, he would easily catch her especially since she had not fed. She was also outnumbered. She looked at the bottle then at Seth. He held her gaze and in her swift movement, she grabbed the bottle and drained it hungrily as everyone watched. All the while she maintained eye contact with him. She threw the bottle at his feet and stood in front of him, eyes red like flames.
“You did this,” she told him in between clenched teeth.
Before he could understand what she meant let alone answer her, she was gone. He stared at the bottle as the vampires wondered how she had left without them noticing. Then realization sunk in on Seth. All he could think was, Shiiiiiiiiiiit!
Lucy’s POV.
My senses are awake. I had repressed them for too long because I had almost forgotten the feel and rush of feeding. However, I need to feed, that was just an appetizer. I arrive at the road that divides the territory between the creatures of the night. Without hesitating, I leap and stick the landing on the other side of the road. I see him on the other side of the road and instantly remember how he just betrayed me. I feel so invincible and what he just did does not bother me as much as it probably would. I have been to cloud nine and right now I’m heading there. That is if I feed. I see the anger he cannot hide all over his face and I smugly smile. He shakes his head slowly trying to stop me but I take a step back, into the shadows and head into the city. I know he’ll send someone after me but until then…
I can only think of one place where I can find an all you can eat buffet. A club. Not just any club but one that is popular for some reason. I’m not new here and can easily tell which one I’ll go to. There’s a long line as party goers try to get in. Some are underage but it depends on how you can convince the bouncer at the door. Well, my attire won’t get me in so I need to find a meal. I slip into an alley to scope out a proper one but I just happen to be lucky. A couple couldn’t wait to get home so there they were, oblivious of my presence and obviously drunk. I look at them, life is so short, bid my time and then move in. I start with the girl, she’s more likely to scream, and end with the guy. He is too shocked to react so I take advantage of this. I slowly walk to him, blood running down my mouth and eyes red, my face is blank and he is trembling in fear.
“Bo!” That does it and he opens his mouth. I am on him before he makes a sound. I have my fill and change into the girl’s clothes. Not too slutty and not too nun-like. I check their pulse, they’ll live. An idea comes to mind I decide to utilize my newly found resources.
Seth’s POV.
She’s gone. I should have seen this coming. I cannot stop her from doing what she’ll do but she needs someone to watch over her. I need that closure. I reach for my phone. Damn it! She took it. Both of them. I smile. She is too clever for me, sometimes.
“I guess I have to wake the whole neighbourhood.”
The other vampires have left. I don’t trust them. Never have. Never will. I look up at the moon. To my kind it feels like a spotlight. Every move you took felt watched and criticized. Yet at the same time it could give you this surge of power and strong will. Like you are unstoppable. The Omegas sometimes overdid the power thing especially those in transition. Betas handled it fairly well and Alphas were bred for it. I am an Alpha but not of the royal bloodline, of nobility. Royal Alphas do most of the work while we mobilize people. Speaking of mobilize… I check my watch and I am late, as usual, for the council meeting. How I am a member of the council, by right of birth.
I come from a long line of warrior wolves, born with a birthmark of a wolf’s eye on my shoulder. It’s traditional and mandatory that I attend every meeting. However, right now, I have other mandatory things to take care of. I look up at the moon and give a low growl which ascends into a high pitched howl. One that can easily pass normal wolf ears except my own and the person intended to hear it. Now I have to wait. I hope Lucy hasn’t caused too much damage. I scoff, yeah, highly unlikely. I should never have made her drink it. She turns into someone else, a person I cannot recognize, a person far from whom I know and love. A branch breaks.
“Thanks for coming on such short notice.” I drawl.
“How can we possibly not.”
“We?!” I turned and there they were, two short identical boys. “Rocky, Rover, that was not meant for you.”
“And yet we heard it. What can we do for you?” Rover replied. He was the more outspoken of the two. Rocky was more of a hunter. The only way to tell them apart was their hair, Rover’s was brown while Rocky’s was black.
“Go find Rick, now.”
“Easy. What do we get for it?”
“My gratitude.”
“How about training.” It was not a question.
“You are too young.”
“You are so late for the council meeting and yet, here we all are…” I trusted these kids with my life. A soft spot they relished and used to their advantage as well as mine.
“Where exactly am I and why?”
“Training us. Preventing room for any mischievous deeds.” Rover replied without blinking.
“Deal.” For a seven year old, this kid knew his stuff. Something to do with his mischievous deeds.
“Indefinitely.” I can work around that.
“Deal.” They leave in wolf form, Rocky leading the way.
Narrative.
The two young wolves tracked Rick down quite easily since they knew where he normally was. Naturally, he was with his friends at a parking lot talking about a recent conquest. They walked up to where the group was like innocent puppies. Rick had not seen them but his friends had and were mocking and petting them. They acted harmless until Rick noticed them then they growled and attacked the vampires. It was a full moon and they could easily take them but Rick intervened.
“Okay, okay, I’m coming.” Rick told them as he tried to stop from bursting into a fit of laughter. His friends were angry but understood when Rick’s explanation. “So, you guys never get tired of adventure?”
“We live for it.” Rover answered. “Plus, you and Seth get to baby sit.” Rick smiled.
“He’s late for the council meeting again, isn’t he?”
“It hadn’t started then but now he’s definitely late.” Rick narrowed his eyes then realized what the twins had done.
“Can I adopt you guys?”
Lucy’s POV.
I remember a place near here and take the two to it, unnoticed. It’s an abandoned building, cannot be demolished for some important reason and nobody goes near it. At least that’s what the sighs said. I find a perfect room and tie them to the bed tightly using strips of their bloodied clothing. By the time they come to, I’ll be back but I muffle them just in case.
I return to the club and try to compel the bouncer to let me in but he doesn’t look at my eyes. I may be a little rusty but he just looks at any other part of my body except my face. I walk in and I’m immediately hit by the heat, smells and sounds blasting from within. The place is completely packed as people are trying to dance in the limited amount of space that is the dance floor. I need a drink so I push my way through the sea of sweating bodies and men who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves. I managed to make it to the bar and caught the eye of the bartender. He was tall, muscular and tanned. I noticed that he had two tattoos peaking from his left arm but his muscle shirt hid most of them. By the way he barely looked around the club told me that he was new. A true bartender always kept watch even without seeming to do so. This fact spelled out two things; a guy with a bad past seeking to start over or a guy who was trouble. TROUBLE.
I order and he quickly serves me, despite complaints from others who had been waiting for a while. Placing the drink in front of me, he looks straight at me, daring me to make the first move. I already have an idea as to who or what he is. Been there, done that, ripped his heart out and shoved it where it hurt. Moreover, I had become accustomed to the burn and had just had a rather large meal so…hit me with your best shot!
I take a large gulp while maintaining eye contact. The familiar burn is missing. Water? I made sure not to look surprised and raised my eyebrow. A lazy smile plays at the corners of his mouth then it vanishes as quickly as it appeared. He turns to serve others like nothing had happened. This sparks my interest but so does the guy who’s watching me from across the room. I head for the prospect.
Here, no language is required, well apart from body language. Then I recognize him but it is too late. I am too close and I can feel his power pulling me towards him although every last bone in my body is protesting. He is wearing black jeans and a black T-Shirt, plain casual clothes at a club. Not weird at all. He looked dark and mysterious. I cannot move. He has grown stronger from our last encounter. Practice. I stop in front of him; he is in complete control of me. He smiles smugly.
“Hello Lucy, it has been a while now. Care to dance? ”
I cannot answer yet he leads me to the dance floor. To the untrained eye, this gesture would easily be seen as normal and of two people who know each other and are probably dating. I know him but the latter is never going to happen. Not even in the afterlife! He slides his hands around my waist and they rest on the small of my back as my own hands snake their way around his neck. The song is a slow one and the music dies down, or so he makes me think. We sway from side to side rhythmically. He allows me to speak, although with some difficulty.
“Ass.” I mange to say through clenched teeth.
“A nice one you have.”
“Dick.”
“You can have it anytime.”
“Sonofa-”
“You got to be more original than that!”
“Rick-”
“There it is. Now that is a start.”
Before I know it, he has kissed me and infected me with his poison. I openly kiss him since he is in control and I feel as light as a feather. At least I got to cloud nine and passed it. Oh boy, here goes. Darkness.
Seth’s POV.
I have spoken to Rick. An old friend of ours but not before he laughed in my face about losing her, again, and also about being tricked by the twins. He is a tall guy and very handsome, he has a Dorian Gray thing going for him. We grew up together and he was supposed to be one of us but we all make our own choices. We do so mostly for the sake of others but our survival takes the cake. He does have the wolf instinct in addition to his weird vampire powers. His power is more on the borders of persuasion and controlling the body of an unsuspecting victim until it is too late for them to escape. He makes them see, feel and do things they would not do. Main victims are ladies, obviously, but to make quick money or do a favour for a friend he can prey on the males. Rick is the best candidate to track Lucy down because he has his ways as well as the fact that he can mask his identity.
I cannot leave the pack as that would be breaking the territorial rules. I instruct Rick to try and subdue Lucy by starving her then bringing her beck to me. He ignored me as usual but promised to bring her back. I take his word for it. Her condition worries me. I send the twins home and head to face Paton. I can already picture her fuming and pacing in front of my room. I get to my room and find my mental picture as clear as day.
“Where the bloody hell have you been? I have tried to sniff you out and all I get is a f’ing smoke screen!”
“Is it safe to say that you are extremely angry?”
“I’d say it is downright suicide!”
“Can we talk inside-“
“Why? Because people will hear? That is precisely the point!”
“Pate, please,” I give her my best puppy dog eyes and she falls for it, mainly out of reason, not that I am a master at it. She informs me inside that there is trouble, big trouble.
“He is in the area and he has a bigger army. He is recruiting more as we speak.”
“I will have to consult with Mother Nature.”
“If you need help looking for your friend…I am here to help.”
Thanks. I nod and she leaves. I lay on my bed but I can hardly sleep. My thoughts are all over the place. I need to talk to her so I head out into the chilly cloudless sky. Soon I reach the familiar clearing. A lone tree stands at the middle surrounded by water. I follow the path of smooth stones that lead directly to it. I stand at the foot of the tree and take in a calming breath. A strong wind blows but I stand there unmoved. I kneel and a light breeze follows accompanied by a soothing voice.
My child, it says, what is it that troubles you?
“I am not sure anymore. Everything is troubling. Lucy is feeding, the pack is in danger and honestly, I have no idea where to start.”
I think that you have all the answers you are looking for. You just do not know which ones answer which questions.
“And I think that you are telling me off indirectly so that you do not tell me everything I want to hear.”
Here I thought that I was the oracle.
“Such are the contradictions in life.” Silence.
Your father is proud of you Seth. Do not ever doubt that. He loves you.
“I am a disappointment.”
To yourself, yes. To others, never.
“I am my own worst enemy. How do I beat myself?”
By finding yourself.
“Mother, how?”
There is no manual. You do that alone but not entirely alone.
“Lucy?”
Now she is finding herself; by losing herself.
“That is not smart.”
Yet it was her choice to do so. She is right.
“So, you knew what she would do?”
I know the choices one is given, what they choose is up to them.
“Do you grant wishes?”
Do plants live forever? Stalling will grant you state of mind but stalking will grant you peace of mind.
“What if I am wrong?”
What if you are?
“I’ll still find a way around it.”
Yes child, your eyes are open but what is it you seek? What is it you want to see? What is it you do not? What change will it make to the outcome?
“The outcome remains but the journey to it is what matters.”
It is calm as I walk back to camp. If he can make an army, so can I. If it is a fight he wants, then it is a fight he will get. I find sleep easily as I anticipate the next day’s activities.
Narrative.
Rick carries an unconscious Lucy into the old building. He finds the two humans still tied up and makes sure they do not come to anytime soon. He ties Lucy up using a rope he had brought along. He was not alone. He had seduced a girl earlier in the club and was compelling her still. The effects wear off on Lucy and she tries to figure out where she is and what was going on. It took a few seconds for her to remember and she begun struggling to free herself. After struggling for a while, Rick let out a sigh and compelled her to calm down by controlling her body movements. He kept out of her emotions and head although he could feel her anger and read her thoughts. He could feel and hear more if he wanted but he knew he would regret it. She would make sure of it. Rick sat across from Lucy in an old chair as the girl sat on his lap looking at him and openly admiring him, willing him to return the look but hopelessly failing. He looked directly at Lucy.
“I’m giving you two options,” Rick began. He took the girl’s hand, palm up, and kissed her wrist. “One, I drain all the blood from your body then force you to drink animal blood.”
He extends his index finger which has a claw like nail and uses it to make an incision on the girl’s wrist, slowly, and blood begins to flow freely. The girl is in a trance and cannot feel a thing. Lucy’s nostrils are invaded with the smell of blood and she shifts uncomfortably.
“Or I can starve you first then give you the animal blood. With the torture of watching me feed, of course.”
He puts his thumb over the incision to stop the bleeding. Licking his finger, he cleans the flowing blood on the girl’s arm seductively using his tongue. Lucy reacted ; her iris and pupil turned red. She was panting and growling lowly, her fangs and canines showing. He smiled knowingly and would make her wait in anticipation. It would be worth the wait.
“Two, you get to do as you like, when you like and how you like it. However, you stick with me. I teach you and you enlighten me.” He waits for her answer but she is quiet for longer than he expected. The girl is getting pale but cannot take her eyes off of him.
“Let’s speed this up, shall we?” Rick lets the girl straddle him and he embraces her and deepens the kiss. She moans. He kisses her chin and neck as he begins his decent. The girl writhes in pleasure, enjoying every moment. Then barring his fangs and with a growl of primal need, he bit her neck and fed. Lucy couldn’t take it anymore, she was hysterical.
“Want some?” His asked, his mouth covered in blood as he held the almost limp body. “Are you sure?” She nods vigorously. “Which is it?”
“Ttttttttwo.” She answered between clenched teeth.
“I’m sorry, what?” She gave a low growl followed by a yell as she struggled against her restraints. Smiling, he healed the girl’s wounds. He asked her, “What’s your name?”
“Marge.” She was still in a trance. She was a local waitress, new to the area, a part time job to pay her tuition fees.
“Well Marge, It’s been fun. Now I need you to do something for me, hmm. Can you do it?”
“Anything.” With a devilish grin, he answered flatly,
“Run.” She took off and he quickly released Lucy, “I remember that you were always a sucker for a chase.”
Before he completed his statement, she had run after the girl, overtaken her and brought her back into the room. The girl had nearly reached the main fence and screamed when Lucy caught her by the hair before she could escape. Lucy sunk her teeth into Marge and drained her dry while Rick watched in open amusement.
“We are going to have so much fun!”
A/N:
So yeah. Comments, likes, anything? This concludes the first part. Two more to go then the three will be merged into one. Confused? So am I. :)
Prologue.
He did not need to care how he parked his car. He was on a mission and parking was not a priority at the moment. The sun was about to set as he made his way across the open dust-filled lot to the old building at the end of the field. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her leaning against her car door. Even when she was not dressed up, she looked divine. In nothing but running shoes, a short skirt, one handed top, wild hair and sunglasses. She could stir his groin no matter what she wore or did not. However, this was no time for pleasure. How in the world did this woman find him? He was careful not to raise suspicion. Well, maybe he was not careful enough. She was not looking at him and he thought about going back but he knew she would spot him. After all, she knew he would be here. So he walked until he was a few meters away from her. She slowly raised her eyes at him as his shadow fell over her. A seductive smile played on her lips as she openly took in his well muscled physique. He wore a plain white shirt that hid none of his well toned arms, a pair of worn out blue jeans, brown cowboy boots and a brown hat.
“Well, hello gorgeous. Fancy meeting you here.”
“How did you know to find me here?”
“Baby, no hello?”
He removed his hat and ran his fingers through his raven black hair. She loved how soft it felt under her fingers and craved to have him. He, on the other hand, was impatient and she knew if she did not act fast, he would do what he came here for. So she did the next big thing. She pulled out a .38 hand gun and pointed it right at him. He was taken by surprise.
“Where did you get that, doll?”
“Why don’t you get in the car and you’ll find out.”
He hesitated. She was playing a dangerous game. Trapped and having nowhere to go, he had to find out if she was serious. From their time together, he knew that she could be on both extremes. Sanity and Insanity. Still, he was curious. She intrigued him and he, her. This was a dangerous union but one that was exhilarating and full of adventure. However, all adventures come to an end at some point.
“Ignorance is bliss, doll. I think I’m better off not knowing.”
“Ignorance kills, baby.” With that, in one swift movement, she shot at both sides of his feet, missing his feet by inches, then pointed the gun back at him. “I’m sure you can reconsider.” She smirked at him.
“You were always good with an instrument.”
“Get. In.”
Texte: Joanne M.
Bildmaterialien: Google
Lektorat: Joanne M.
Übersetzung: Originally in English
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 06.10.2015
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Widmung:
To me,for actually writing.
To all,who pushed me into writing.
To you,for reading this. It takes a lot to decide to read something.