Day 1 - Meeting

Black boots crashed into the man’s head, smashing him into the wall. If he were human, it would’ve meant the end. But, as it was, he was a ghoul and perfectly capable of surviving. Leaping lightly to the ground, Farah slammed his booted foot into the ghoul’s cranium a few more times to be sure.

No response. Unconscious at last.

“I hate ghouls,” he muttered, reaching to his belt for handcuffs. Noises echoed down the corridor, a much more brutal battle was taking place further along. Lucinda was always perfect for loud diversions. The werewolf had an intense blood lust only levelled by Farah’s own. As a Dusk Vampire he became exhilarated at the mere thought of violence. Especially against other members of the undead (Particularly Dawn vampires).

There came a vicious screech and the lights began to flicker. Shadows danced erratically along the concrete walls and Farah’s eyes narrowed. If she inflicted too much damage to the place, they’d both be getting it in the neck. So to speak.

Glancing down at his prisoner, he deliberated joining the fight. Adrenalin was already beginning to pump through his veins, desperate for action. Before a conclusion could be reached a light accented voice entered his head. Oi, oi, you’re running late.

“I know,” he snapped, slinging the unconscious ghoul over his shoulder. “Tell that to Lucinda. The idiot’s trying to tear this place apart.”

Heavens, we’re not gonna have to pay for it are we?

“Take it out of Kyan’s salary, he won’t notice. All he ever does is mooch off the rest of us anyway.”

Said the pot, the Irishman quipped.

The corridor outside was deserted. Huge scratches scarred the walls and craters were dotted along the hall at regular intervals. Dust and bits of concrete littered the floor before him. Stinking ghoul blood was splattered across the walls and floor. Most of the lights had also been smashed leaving the hallway in near darkness.

The growls and screeches continued.

Can you go drag her out? Pretty please?

“That’s your job, Mika!”

Babies whine, Farah. There was a pause as Farah glared at the wall. I’ll do your chores for a week?

“Done!” Grinning to himself, he trudged down the passage, shifting the prisoner on his shoulders. “Hey, where abouts-” His words were cut off as Lucinda was hurled down the corridor, her flailing claws narrowly missing his face. Stunned, he stared wide eyed at the approaching figure. The flickering lights behind it illuminated curly hair and loose clothes but left their face concealed in shadow.

Groaning, Lucinda clawed up the wall to get to her feet.

“Who the hell is that?” Farah dumped the ghoul to free his hands.

Fangs out, Lucinda’s speech was distorted beyond recognition. However, one glance from her amber eyes relayed her feelings of confusion. This was an unknown enemy.

“Mika?” For once the other man was silent. “Mika!”

There came a chuckle from the looming silhouette. “Sorry,” they drawled. “No little druid to help you out with this one.” Another laugh as they drew nearer.

Easing his feet apart, Farah settled himself into a crouch, ready to spring at the man. A dark film slid down over his eyes. Night vision was a wonderful thing in these sorts of places. With its aid, he could make out a man with narrow features and curly hair. Fangs growing, he let out a low warning growl.

Apparently, this made the man even more amused as he laughed yet again.

“Aren’t you two just adorable?” he sighed. “All growly and fanged up. As if you could take me down. But don’t worry. I’m not here to fight.”

A snarl rolled from Farah’s lips. “You could’ve fooled me.”

This time, the man was silent. It was now possible to smell him over the stink. Both Lucinda and Farah growled as they caught his scent. Werewolf. One from a pack most likely. The scent was too refined, too purely lupine to be either half-breed or turned.

“Now, now, little ones,” the man said, stepping into the pool of flickering light spilling from the still open door. It fell upon a smirking face and dark blond hair. Amused golden eyes gleamed at them in a silent laugh. “I really am just here to chat.”

“Why can’t we hear Mika?” Farah demanded, venom pooling in his glands. Ready to bite, ready to kill, destroy.

With a sigh that held more than a hint of exasperation, the man explained. “I’ve blocked mental communication. It’s a thing I know how to do,” he drawled. “Now, are you willing to listen to me? I won’t hurt you. I’m not armed nor have I even begun transforming.”

Farah glanced to Lucinda. Her senses were better than his; she’d be able to pick up on dishonesty. After several moments, she straightened. Fangs and claws retracting, she nodded. “What do you want?” Instead of answering, the man just looked at Farah. With a snarl, Farah reverted to his fully human form as well.

Delighted, the man smiled again. “Thank you. Now, I want the pair of you to carry a message for me.”

“We look like messengers to you?” Farah demanded.

“Silence,” Lucinda snapped, shooting him a glare. “What kind of message?”

“A warning.” The amusement faded. “On a recent hunt, my pack picked up on something… odd. My Alpha wanted us to stay quiet-”

“I thought most packs didn’t have Alphas,” Farah interrupted, ignoring Lucinda’s warning glower.

“We’re not most packs,” the man chuckled. He smirked at Farah in a way that made the vampire’s skin crawl with distaste. “Which is probably why we managed to find it.”

“Are you going to tell us what it was or do we have to guess?” Lucinda asked, eyes stony now that her bloodlust had receded.

“I place my bets on bullshit,” Farah grumbled but was ignored.

Taking his time, the man paced slightly across the passage space, pausing to inspect the blood on the walls. “You know of Shades, right? Well, imagine for a moment that a certain Shade with a certain… ability began experimenting with other life forms.” When Lucinda fixed him with a glare, he laughed again. “Look, my hands are tied. My Alpha gave me orders. All I’m saying is that you should tottle off to your little councillors and get them to look into the eastern Shade district. You’ll find something interesting I’m sure.” Cocky smile intact, he winked at Farah before turning on his heel and starting back.

With quick, skilled and practiced movements, Lucinda pulled her gun from her belt. “Freeze,” she ordered, pointing it at the man’s back. “I’m afraid you’ll have to come with us,” she said and fired.

Day 2 - Council

“Isaac Dentina?” Jinsa asked. Her blank aqua eyes were narrowed in suspicion. “Surely you are a one of Lark’s.” The faerie looked uncomfortable, her glassy wings twitching in agitation.

Despite the swelling bruises on his scalp, the curly haired man still managed a smirk. “Defected, I’m afraid. Mother’s love just wasn’t my style.” The young man was knelt before nine thrones of knotted ancient oak upon each one, a council member sat. Each member represented one of the nine united races of the realm: Faeries, Vampires, Warlocks, Druids, Ghosts, Elves, Werewolves, Humans and Shifters.

“Traitors are no friends of the council,” Terrin declared. “Especially those who forsake their packs.” The elder werewolf was glaring at the man knelt before him. Distaste rippled through his every word and a growl crept in at odd moments.

Isaac let out a harsh laugh. “It’s called modernisation, old man. I didn’t get along with my family so I left and found a better one.”

“With Cassius?” Terrin scoffed. “He’s a pathetic excuse for a lycan. Deceitful, dishonourable-”

“Honour?” Eyebrow raised, Isaac sent a glance towards the scattering of people stood beneath the balconies. “What about that little puppy with the braids? She shot me in the back!”

Beneath the stone canopy, Mika let out a mock gasp. “Lucy!” he whispered. “How could you?”  Not taking her eyes away from the scene, Lucinda punched him. Beside her, Farah glared at Isaac through the protection of his sunglasses. Sunlight was lethal to Dusk vampires. Even the sight of it caused his eyes to sting and it only made him more irritable. The handful of Dawn vampires a few feet away (pretty and pretentious as always) weren’t doing anything to help matters.

“Lucinda is a half-breed,” Terrin snapped. “And as such she isn’t bound by honour laws. Cassius on the other hand is. Unless there’s something he wishes to tell us?”

“Cassius is a good and honourable lycan,” Isaac growled. The slur against his Alpha visibly stung.

“Oh really?” A disbelieving eyebrow climbed its way up Terrin’s forehead. “Is that why he bound your speech?”

In the sudden silence, every vampire and werewolf could hear Isaac’s heart as it began to race. Jaw tightening, Isaac hissed, “Just go to the Eastern Shade territory. If you don’t then every one of you is doomed.”

Fifteen minutes later, the council adjourned. Despite Isaac’s promises that his pack would come looking for him, they ruled that he’d be kept in custody for later questioning. Mika, ever the enthusiast, had volunteered their team to guard him. Which was why, after several hours of waiting around, the lycan was in the back of their car singing at the top of his lungs. Hands cuffed to the divide between the front two seats, he was crammed between Mika and Farah. They’d been banished back there when Lucinda had declared that the latest supply box took precedence and had already claimed the front passenger seat with it. Furious, Farah was glaring out of the black-tinted windows, doing his best to ignore the piercing tones.

“Ooooooh! The Grand old duke of York!” Isaac bellowed, slowly deafening Farah’s delicate ears. “He had ten thousand men!”

“Shut. Up,” Farah growled.

“SORRY!” Isaac all but screamed, mouth barely a centimetre from Farah’s head. “WHAT DID YOU SAY?!”

With a yelp of both pain and annoyance, Farah punched him in the gut once, twice, three times. Quiet reigned at last. Grimace battling with a smug grin, Isaac sat back and contemplated how utterly bleak his outlook was.

First, there was the Shades and their… experiment. The memory gnawed at his mind. With a frown, he shook his head to banish it. In the tight confines, this movement caused Farah yet more annoyance. Not Mika though, the little druid had curled himself up and jammed earphones in. Faint music drifted through the cramped space.

Heavy metal, who would’ve thought.

Anyway aside from the Shades more pressingly was the issue of Cassius. A defeated groan worked its way up his throat, pressing against his clamped down teeth. The whole point of waiting the two months since the discovery was so that Isaac could leave, warn the council and return before Cassius returned from the mountains. So that he wouldn’t notice.

Now?

Now Isaac had two days at most. Two days to think of a plan and escape if he wanted to get back in time. If he was lucky, he could pass it off as a hunting trip. Killian would never betray him and the others rarely kept track of each other while Cassius was away. Two days...  It was a tight schedule but not completely impossible. The alternative…

He didn’t want to think about that.

Plan, he needed a plan. Glancing at his captors, he narrowed his eyes, taking them in. Mika was bird-boned and tiny, looking barely older than sixteen. His accent and colourings marked him as Irish through and through. Natural born druid. Hopefully, his youth meant he was still in school and therefore not fully trained. Lucinda was harder gauge. Probably early twenties with the glowing amber eyes of a half-breed or Turned. Which she was he wasn’t entirely sure. Terrin wasn’t someone he trusted and there was something in her scent…

“Stop staring,” Farah snapped at him. “You’re starting to drool.”

“Stop passing your lust off onto me,” Isaac shot back.

Oh and then there was this idiot. Like all Dusk Vampires, Farah’s skin and hair was pitch black. Anything about the age he had been when he’d died was impossible to guess beneath the thick mass of scar tissue. It covered his face and extended down his neck. Even his hands were scarred. Whatever had killed him had been vicious.

“As if I’d-” Farah was cut off as Mika suddenly sprang upright.

“Seamus needs a walk,” he declared before opening the door and stepping out. Sometime during Isaac’s thoughts, they had arrived. Farah waited until the car was safely stowed within the garage before shouldering open the door and hauling Isaac to his feet.

“Gently, gently!” Isaac yelped. “I’m delicate! You wouldn’t want to break me now, would you?”

“Can we shoot him again?” Farah demanded.

Glaring, Lucinda snapped, “No.” Without elaborating, she stalked inside, the supply box tucked under her arm.

“Who pissed in her cereal?” Isaac asked, frowning.

“No idea,” Farah grumbled. “She’s always like that… shut up.”

*

Revenge was a sweet thing. It was probably the only good thing about Farah’s new living arrangements anyway.

There were three bedrooms in their house plus a basement level. Mika and his older brother Quinn had claimed the largest bedroom while Lucinda had taken the smallest. Kyan, their unsociable warlock, had moved into the basement and rarely left. So, when the issue of where to keep Isaac came up there was really only one solution.

“No,” Farah exclaimed. “I’m not bunking with him! Lock him in the attic or in a cage at the bottom of the garden, I don’t care. Just don’t stick him with me!”

“It makes the most sense,” Daena mused. The ghost did a lot of musing, it was one of the few things the witch-ghost had been able to do in the century since she’d died. “I mean, you don’t sleep at night so you’d be perfect for keeping an eye on him.”

“You don’t sleep either!”

With a sigh, Lucinda thumped her head down on the table. “Farah, you don’t have to talk to him, you just have to make sure he doesn’t run away during the night.”

“But it’s my room!” Farah pressed.

Isaac felt the need to pipe up, “I don’t mind sleeping on the sofa.”

“Shut up,” both Farah and Lucinda snapped.

There came an exasperated sigh from the kitchen door. “It’s not even dinner and you’re already arguing.” Quinn was bigger than his little brother in both height and width. With tattoos the same luminous blue as his eyes, he was without a doubt a fully-fledged druid.

Beneath his breath, Isaac swore. Just brilliant.

“Quinn! Swap rooms with me and watch the prisoner!” Farah pleaded.

Raising an eyebrow, Quinn surveyed Isaac with his eyes for a moment. “You must be hellish if Farah’s begging.”

Eyes widening in a ‘who me?’ expression, Isaac’s mind whirled with plans. If Farah was his guard then he would just have to antagonise the irritable vampire. But if this person was then there was the advantage of the druid’s need to sleep.

“Just sort it out,” Lucinda ordered, getting to her feet. “I need to talk to Kyan.” She vanished through the basement door without another word.

“You wouldn’t be able to handle Mika,” Quinn was saying. “He chatters the whole night on, no stopping him. You’ll be wanting to strangle him after five minutes, I assure you.”

“Well I assure you that I’ll want to do more than strangle him,” Farah jabbed a finger at Isaac, “after two minutes!”

“Ditto.”

“Shut it, dog-breath,” Farah growled.

“Oh,” Isaac scoffed, “we’re doing derogatory slang now are we? Fang face?” The bickering continued, back and forth. It only ceased when Mika’s dog Seamus returned from his walk and set upon Isaac. Only then did Farah notice that both Quinn and Daena had left, Lucinda had returned and was halfway through making dinner.

“I’ll help!” Mika declared completely ignoring the massive Doberman trying to drown Isaac in slobber.

Eventually, after several glasses of alcohol tainted blood, Farah agreed to guard Isaac for a week.

So now, here he was. Slurping blood noisily through a straw and watching in delight as Isaac tried vainly to sleep. It was hard enough already, what with the handcuffs, but now it was perfectly impossible.

Yes, revenge was very sweet indeed.

Day 3 - Attempt

Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t just full moons that had an effect on werewolves. Every quarter moon did as well. It didn’t set their blood alight and fill their heads with moon song or mutate their bodies into those of wolves. However, it did saturate their minds and bodies with agitated nervousness.

Most dealt with it by pacing. Isaac could hear Lucinda’s soft slippered steps on the landing above. Back and forth and back and forth. Around and around again and again.

The same restless energy was thrumming through his veins. It was the energy he intended to harness for his escape plan. Annoying as Farah had been last night it hadn’t prevented Isaac from plotting his escape.

The first part had already been achieved. It had been stupidly easy actually and almost enjoyable. Mission ‘Aggravate Farah till he puts headphones on’ had been a complete success. Now, with the vampire’s sensitive hearing blocked, Isaac was free to carry out stage two.

This part was trickier. It involved counteracting the handcuffs’ runes. Carved across the cuffs were ones that bound the wearer’s power. Across the chain were ones that prevented the cuffs from being broken or releasing without a certain other rune making contact. He didn’t know what that rune was. What he did know was how to counteract the spell.

Ones on the cuff had been started the previous night, though progress had been slow as he’d had to time it with Farah’s noisy slurps of blood. Now the scratching could be continuous. A werewolf’s nails were harder and sharper than a human even un-transformed, it would have been impossible without them.

After ten minutes, he managed to finish last night’s runes. After half an hour, he completed the ones on the other cuff. Power fully restored, it took less than a minute to gouge the runes into the chain. Smirking, he paused to inspect his work. He didn’t really blame them for overlooking this. After all, runes were a warlock’s power and very few werewolves knew anything about them. Let alone the complex and convoluted relationship between them.

Cassius had been very insistent that his pack knew at least the basics.

The sudden thought of his Alpha tipped ice into his veins. Time was a wasting and he needed to get gone.

Strength and energy burned through him. With a vicious snarl, he ripped the cuffs apart, shining links spiralled through the air, tinkling to the floor. Not pausing, he leaped from the bed to the door, ripping it off its hinges.

Noise was everywhere. Lucinda was sprinting down the stairs, behind him Farah was already pelting towards him. He had seconds. But the moon was on his side. Eyes burning silver, he swung around the door frame, grabbing Lucinda as she approached. He threw her into Farah and darted beneath his claws. The pair collided with the wall, a huge crash resounding throughout the building.

By now, the others were waking. Isaac couldn’t afford to give them a second thought as he elbowed Mika in the gut. A vicious bark made Seamus freeze.

The window was before him now. White in the moon’s brightness. Glass shattered, raining down around him as he burst through.

Landing heavily, he allowed the momentum to push him forward into a roll before he stood again. “Thank you!” he called, saluting to Farah as he appeared at the window. “Your hospitality was glorious!”

Farah didn’t say anything. He just folded his arms and waited.

About five metres. That’s how far Isaac managed to get before he hit Kyan’s curse circle. Brilliant blue light exploded from the ground. It pulsed straight through Isaac’s body, energy suddenly coursing through him. It wasn’t like the moon’s, it wasn’t cool and serene and light. It was intense and agonising.

Screaming, he was thrown backwards, bones snapping as he hit the ground at force.

“You know,” Farah drawled, dropping from the window. “You really shouldn’t underestimate us.” Isaac didn’t respond, just began to shake weakly. He was crying, Farah saw. Whether it was from pain or something else, he didn’t know.

“Please,” Isaac whispered. “Just let me go home. I just want to go home.” He looked up at Farah with the terrified eyes of a child. “Please.”

“Orders,” Farah told him, suppressing the sudden surge of pity.

“Then you’ve killed me.” The werewolf closed his eyes. “You’ve killed us all."

Day 18 - Warlock

Silence but for the tick, tick, ticking of the clock. Occasionally there came the soft rustle of sheets as Isaac shifted slightly. Or there would be the crinkle of paper when Farah or Lucinda turned a page of their magazines.

“Don’t you two have jobs?” Isaac suddenly demanded.

“We’re being forced to watch you,” Farah snapped. “So shut up and like it.”

“I suppose I am flattered,” Isaac fake mused, “that you think I can escape with a broken shoulder and fractured ankles.”

“Whose fault is that?” Farah demanded.

“Your warlock’s!”

“He’s not MY warlock!” Farah snarled, leaping to his feet. Taken aback, Isaac just stared at him, wide eyed. “He’s… uh…”

“A sore point,” Lucinda said quietly, turning her magazine upside down. “Oh, it was Canada after all,” she murmured as Farah sat down awkwardly.

Still unsettled, Isaac sank a little deeper into the pillow. Having never actually seen the reclusive Warlock it was difficult to fully understand Farah’s explosive outburst. A feud perhaps? Or maybe some other bad blood.

Quiet reigned some more until the door opened and the nurse walked in. She was a lovely half-Fae with the sweet temperament of an elf. Apparently, she was unaware of Isaac’s position as ‘Sort of Prisoner’. Which was a good thing. Though the prisoner part was becoming more and more sort of. Since his one and only attempt, he’d pretty much given up on the idea. It was too late. For the most part now, he just tried to not think about Cassius. It was hard. After Kyan’s curse circle had taken effect, Isaac had fallen into a nightmarish coma that lasted about two weeks. Cassius would be returning any day now.

As the nurse fussed, the tension abated and Farah slumped back in his chair. “You should really lighten up,” Lucinda told him.

“I don’t wanna hear that from you,” he growled. But there was no venom in his words. She had a point.

“It’s been ten years,” Lucinda pressed. “A decade since you and Kyan-”

“Since me and Kyan what?” he demanded, keeping his voice low. “Since we broke up? Ten years since he got me torn apart by vampires? Or maybe ten years since he turned me into one?”

Used to his outbursts, she just raised an eyebrow at him. “You need to work things out with Kyan. And you need to stop comparing him with every boy you meet.” As Farah spluttered, she turned her attention to the nurse. “How soon can our brother come home?”

“It won’t be too much longer,” the nurse assured her. “The curse’s magic will slowly wear off and his natural healing abilities will begin to kick in again. The doctor’s would like to keep him under observation for a little while longer just in case. However, all things going well, he should be in full health by the end of the month. Of course, it would be quicker if we knew the kind of curse it was.” Her eyes hardened slightly. “But it doesn’t matter in the long run.” After a little more fussing over Isaac, she was gone.

“She knows we’re lying,” Isaac said.

“She also knows that we know she knows,” Lucinda added.

“You still haven’t explained why we have to lie,” he reminded them.

The pair glanced at one another and Farah scowled. “It’s complicated.”

“Oh really?” Isaac scoffed, raising a sceptical eyebrow. “Well you need to uncomplicated it because when my pack comes for me, Cassius is gonna find out what I did and-” Blood draining from his cheeks, he balled his trembling hand. “I need to be at full strength when he does.”

Standing, Lucinda crossed over to the window sill and leaned against it. Her eyes were narrowed in concentration as she worked things through in her head. “If you knew the consequences, why did you risk it? Why did you betray him and warn us?”

“Because-” he broke off, staring down at his lap. “Because… Look, I love my pack and my Alpha. They’re everything to me but… sometimes your loyalty has to be to more than just those close to you. It has to be to every living thing. To be silent, to stay safe in our little hide away, would feel more like treachery than spilling my Alpha’s every secret.”

“The Shades’ experiment is that bad?” Farah asked. Brows furrowing, he gazed at Isaac with fresh eyes. It was easy to just see the argumentative brat that always found a way to irritate him. Ridiculously easy. What was harder to see was the golden streak of true nobility that ran through him. Sure, he didn’t act very noble at times. Underhand tactics weren’t beyond any of them after all. But he had the selflessness to risk his place among those he loved to save the world. After all he and his pack were in no danger or at least they hadn’t been…

“It’s worse,” Isaac said quietly. “Worse than anything I’ve ever seen.”

Lucinda looked at Farah and Farah let out a snarl. “No.”

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say,” she snapped.

“You’re going to say ‘Why don’t you get Kyan in to help?’” he growled. “And my answer is no.”

Annoyed, Isaac jabbed a finger at him. “Look, just get me healed or you’re gonna have to fight a pack of angry werewolves.”

“We’re going to have to fight them anyway,” Farah exclaimed.

“What?” For the second time in less than ten minutes, Isaac was stumped. “No. That’s not how it works. I get healed and then I meet with them when they come. Then I stop them hurting any of-”

“And turn yourself over to Cassius just like that, huh?” Irritated, Farah leaped to his feet to clip Isaac around the ears. “So that you can be… executed or whatever they do to traitors?”

“Yes!” Isaac exclaimed. “That’s exactly what’s going to ha-”

“You seem to be forgetting your place,” Farah cut him off. “You’re our prisoner, remember. And therefore our responsibility. We’re not going to let anything or anyone hurt you, do you understand?”

“Unless they’re Kyan?” Lucinda pressed.

With a growl, Farah glared at her. “Fine! I’ll call him. Dunno if the bastard’ll even pick up.” He continued grumbling to himself as he dug his phone out of his pocket. Slamming it against his ear, he proceeded to glower at the skirting board. “It’s me,” he snapped as Kyan answered.

There was a pause. It was followed by loud beeping indicating Kyan had hung up. Spluttering in outrage, Farah gestured at Lucinda then at the phone. Unimpressed, Lucinda just stared at him.

After five more attempts, Kyan actually spoke. “Stop calling me,” he ordered.

“I need to talk to you,” Farah snarled. “Now stop hanging up and-” Beep beep beep. “I’m gonna rip his throat out.”

Finally, Kyan conceded. “If I listen will you leave me alone?”

“Yes! Now shut up!” With a huff, Farah did his best to ignore Isaac’s poorly suppressed laughter. “Look, your curse was a bit too well done and we need you to remove it.”

Moody silence was followed by a surly, “Why?”

“Because we need you to.” If Isaac knew how to piss Farah off with a word, Kyan knew how to do it without breathing.

“But he can’t run away like this,” Kyan pointed out. “It’s what you asked me to achieve in the first place.”

Farah glanced at Isaac again. “He hasn’t got anywhere to run to,” he said, calmer. “Not anymore.”

“He could be lying.”

“He’s not.”

There was a light laugh. “Always so quick to be enamoured, Farah.”

“I’m not-”

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Don’t kill anyone.” This time the beeps sounded resolute. Final.

*

“Is this going to hurt?” Isaac demanded as soon as Kyan walked in.

“No,” Farah assured him. Why he felt the need to, he wasn’t entirely sure.

“Yes,” Kyan said. He was a tall and willowy young man. A light welsh accent added to the serenity of his appearance. “I used a forbidden curse to bind you, they don’t have an exact cure so I’ll have to use another one to remove it.” Sitting beside Isaac, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “You might want something to bite down on.”

Metal never tastes good. But the metal stand for the drip was the closest thing they had that might stand a chance against his teeth. Securing it in his mouth, he nodded. “Now,” Farah whispered.

White hot agony ripped its way through Isaac’s body. Teeth crunching straight through the metal, he screamed. Writhing and twisting, he tried to get away from Kyan. Away from the hands that burned. That slashed. That tore into the very substance of his being. There was nothing else. Nothing but those hands and pain. Sheer, intense pain. It ripped the world away, filling his mind with nothing but-

A warm hand sought his. Latching onto it, he squeezed. So tight the fingers snapped and snapped again. He didn’t care.

Neither did Farah.

Day 26 - Howl

Sunday dinner was always one of the week’s highlights. With seven people in the house now, the rotor meant they each cooked once a week. Competitiveness forced them to always try and outdo the last person. So, by the time they got to Sunday it was usually spectacular.

Tonight, it was Isaac’s turn at a Sunday.

“Isn’t this cheating?” Isaac demanded as Farah chopped the onions with expert speed.

“Do you want me to let you suffer alone?” Farah asked, an eyebrow raised. When Isaac pouted silently, he laughed. “I’m not doubting your cooking abilities… Well actually I guess I am.”

“You’re supposed to be encouraging me,” Isaac snapped, jabbing him in the side.

“Don’t jab me!” Farah exclaimed, poking Isaac in the gut. Yelping, Isaac slammed a hand down on the side to support himself. As his breathing hitched, Farah looked away guiltily. It was easy to forget. Kyan’s second curse may have restored Isaac’s healing but it had also filled his nerves with fire. Every move ached and burned. While he hid it well, any extra pain was a burst of pure agony. “I’m sorry, do you-?”

“I’m fine,” Isaac snapped, swinging himself into a chair. “Just… give me a second.”

Silence.

Farah really hated silences. There’d been too many in his life. Too many long and empty silences filled with unspoken words. Things that should have been said or should have been done. Silence always seemed to bring out the wasted chances. Highlight them. Throw them in his face.

“I heard, by the way,” Isaac told him. “In the hospital. About why you hate Kyan so much.”

“I don’t hate him,” Farah grumbled. “He saved my life by turning me. I just… I just wish he didn’t… I hate that he hates me now. Because I’m a monster. It was his fault in the first place.”

Another silence.

“What happened?”

Placing the knife down, Farah turned and leaned against the sideboard. “It’s not that much of a story, really. Ten years ago we were… together, partners in both work and… other stuff. Anyway, there was a group of rogue Dusk vamps. They’d been able to get hold of this ancient spell, druid I think though it might have been Faerie. It made them resistant to the sun so they went on this massive killing spree. Just Dawn vampires at first but later everything that went near them. We were doing recon, keeping track of them. But we lost them in this maze of alleyways. So... Kyan sent me down to follow them on foot while he co-ordinated from the roof tops.” He paused, glaring at the floor. “I dunno how long it took me to realise but… eventually I saw that I wasn’t following them. They were following me and Kyan knew full well. They’d split up so he was using me as bait to get them together in a big group again for an attack. Turns out there’d been a big plan which I hadn’t been informed of.” Biting his lip, he looked up again. “Needless to say, they tore me apart as soon as I got into the open. Kyan went crazy and unleashed his super powerful soul destroying death magic thing. It’s now bound of course but back then no one knew about it. Then he dragged one of the corpses over to me and squeezed its blood into what was left of my mouth. Now here I am today.”

Apparently unsurprised, Isaac nodded slowly. “Yeah, that’s the same as what he said.”

“Wait, what?” Annoyance flared. “You already knew?”

“Kyan told me,” Isaac explained. “Sort of. After I stopped screaming, we kinda had a telepathic chat thing. It was interesting. He seems to think that you hate him.” He chuckled lightly. “You’re both so similar, it’s funny.”

“You think this is funny?” demanded Farah as his mind whirled. Kyan didn’t hate him? But that was impossible… incredible. Oddly it didn’t fill him with the intense relief he might have expected. Either he didn’t really believe it or… no that had to be it. It had to.

Had to.

Sadly, Isaac shook his head. “Not like that. More… ironic. That you’re so similar but you don’t understand what the other person’s feeling.”

Not replying, Farah returned to the onions. Even if the reveal about Kyan hadn’t really affected him, he still felt better. Happier. Lighter even, now that he’d told Isaac.

Leaning back in his chair, Isaac watched Farah from beneath half lowered lids. Even with the scars obscuring his face, Farah was so easy to read. He wore his heart on his lapels, sleeves and pockets. Every thought and emotion played through his body now that his face could no longer do the job. It was odd and absolutely fascinating.

The forming smile suddenly froze when the silence that stretched between them became deafening. A ringing kind of emptiness that drilled into his skull. Gasping, Isaac leaped upwards. He knew this feeling. Almost in slow motion, the chair crashed to the floor.

“Isaac?” Farah turned sharply, alarmed. Body quivering, Isaac’s eyes glazed over and his breath hitched again.

A quiet growl escaped his lips and then he was running. Toward the door. Without a second thought, Farah grabbed him around the waist and dragged him back. Yelping, Isaac bit, struggled and fought. Desperate to get away.

“Let me go!” he snarled. “I need to get there! Let me go!”

“What’s going on?!” Farah demanded, pinning him against the wall.

“Alpha!” Isaac yelled. “Alpha!” His eyes were crazed, burning with golden light. After more screeching, he began to howl.

The kitchen door burst open and Lucinda entered. “The Alpha’s howling,” she yelled. “It’s a form of mind control.” Slamming a hand over Isaac’s mouth, she hissed and her eyes lit up orange. “Dammit… We need to snap him out of it or he’s going to call the entire pack down on us.”

“How?” Farah demanded, as Isaac struggled harder. “I’m barely keeping hold of him!”

Adding her weight in pinning him down, she glared at him. “Use your imagination, dammit!”

Several more minutes of struggling passed before an idea occurred to him. It was a very stupid idea and quickly banished. However it stirred up slightly different ideas… ones that followed the same concept.

Allowing Lucinda to take the full strain, he ducked his head down to Isaac’s ear and whispered. What he actually said, he refused to reveal. Ever. Just the thought of it made him cringe. Not because it was a shameless lie. No, it was the very opposite of that. The complete opposite.

Murmuring more fervently, Farah rested his hand lightly on Isaac’s throat. The boy was still now. Silent, staring. Slowly, Lucinda lowered her hand.

“They’re gone,” Isaac breathed. “I can’t hear them. They’re gone.” His knees gave way and Farah caught him. “What happened?”

“I’m guessing,” Lucinda said slowly, stepping away. “That the link is broken. You’re no longer one of the pack. Farah.” She stared at him. “What did you say?”

Day 50 - Alpha

One of the most annoying things about werewolves was their ability to put on muscle. It was ridiculous. Hard as it was for a human, it took a hell of a lot to change any part of a vampire’s anatomy. Muscle was the same. It took a workout from hell three times a week to put on the tiniest amount. Werewolves, however, just had to breathe and they were buffing up.

Grumpily, Farah glared at Isaac as the werewolf casually chatted with Lucinda. They were challenging each other to heavier and heavier dumbbells. Ever since his sudden departure from the pack, he had started to become a part of the team. He wasn’t officially recognised as a member but there was still a strong sense of camaraderie. There were no more handcuffs. And as long as he had them with him, he was free to move about. Even in official council buildings like this gym.

“Slacking, Farah?” he called, catching sight of him.

“Or maybe he’s just admiring the view,” Lucinda joked. In all honesty, it wasn’t that bad. Both were good looking and fit. Six pack galore.

Could it be called galore if there were only two of them?

“Don’t worry,” Isaac said. “I’m sure you’ll be able to catch up.”

“I don’t need to ‘catch up’,” Farah snapped. “I’m still stronger than you. I just don’t show it.”

Dropping the dumbbell, Isaac raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?” He was smirking. It was the one he’d worn when they had first met. The casual confidence that suited him so well. That hadn’t been around for a while.

“Yes really.” On his feet, Farah pulled off his jacket.

“You think you could take me?” Isaac scoffed. “You?”

Rolling her eyes, Lucinda grabbed a towel. “I’m heading to the showers, don’t break anything.” Neither acknowledged her as they both moved towards the sparring mat.

“C’mon then, wolf boy!” Farah held out his arms. “Gimme your best shot!” Shoulders low, Isaac sped towards him. Claws extended, he slashed at Farah’s chest. As Farah stepped back, he swung his other arm round in a punch. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

With a light growl, Isaac paused, took a breath and tried again. Faster. Much faster. Claws to the face. Elbow to the neck. Fist, knee, kick. Faster and faster. Few things could beat a vampire’s reflexes but this unceasing barrage of swings and blows was coming close.

“Shit!” Farah yelped, leaping over an unexpected low kick.

“Losing your touch, old man?” Isaac cackled.

“I’m thirty one!”

“Oooold,” Isaac sang, jumping back from a quick jab. “Unbelievably, ridiculously old.”

“Shut up!” Farah snarled, advancing now.

After a pause, Isaac smirked again. “Make me.”

“You should not have just-”

The wall exploded. Bricks and plaster blasted through the air at break neck speed. Grabbing Isaac’s collar, Farah hauled him away from immediate danger. “What the hell was that?!” Deadly sunlight was spilling into the room.

“Them.” Jaw tightening, Isaac tensed. “They’re here at last.”

Through the hole, stepped a group of five werewolves. Golden eyed like Isaac, their claws out and half-formed fangs gleaming. “Isaac!” one called, striding to the front. Tall, dark and with eyes like fire. “So sorry to receive your resignation. Though it would have been nice to hear it in person.”

Pushing Farah behind him, Isaac growled. “Leave, Cassius. Now.”

Cassius laughed. “Oh really? You think I’ll let one of my wolves be stolen from me and I won’t kick up a fuss.”

“Took you long enough,” Farah snarled. “What? Did you get lost?”

Slowly, Cassius looked him up and down. “No,” he mused. “Just a little trouble getting past your council lapdogs. Hmm… you’re the one who stole my Isaac away.” Before Farah could snap, Cassius tuttingly shushed him. “But really, Isaac. You do have terrible taste in men. I mean this one’s hideous.”

“That’s none of your business,” Isaac snapped. “I’m not joining you again.”

“Please, Isaac!” Another one spoke up. This boy was slighter, darker skinned but still with those brilliant golden eyes. “Please, just come home. You belong with us. Please don’t betray us.”

“I’m sorry, Killian,” Isaac said. Reaching back, he took the hand he’d once crushed while writhing in agony. “But after what he did to me-”

Alarmed, Cassius froze. “After what I did?”

“Yeah.” Eyes cold, Isaac glared at him. “Everything you made me do, what you made me forget, it all came back. I know, Cassius. And you will never make me hurt anyone ever again.”

Cassius paused and smiled. “Won’t I?” His eyes flashed and Isaac’s claws sprang out before him. “Did you think I’d let you go so easily? The connection is gone but the deep bond remains.” His eyes turned to Farah. “Kill him.”

Backing hurriedly away, Farah held out his hands. “Isaac, don’t listen to him.” Fangs extending as well, Isaac turned his wide and panicked eyes to him. “Isaac! You’re stronger than this!”

“He’s really not,” Cassius laughed. “Kill him, Isaac. Then we’ll all go home together.” Isaac tried to speak around the fangs but it just came out as a snarl. Shaking his head, he began shaking.

“I don’t wanna fight you,” Farah hissed. “Isaac!”

“Drag him into the sunlight!” Cassius called. “Make him burn!”

Allowing his hands to drop, Farah pressed his back against the shadows of the corner. “Isaac…” The werewolf clamped his clawed hands around Farah’s wrists. “I… I love you. You know that, right?”

Everything stopped.

Fangs shrinking, Isaac stared up at him. “What?”

“I… dammit.” He grabbed Isaac’s face and pulled him into a kiss. Gasping, Isaac kissed him back, claws retracting as the bond shattered.

Cassius was shouting. “Stop this!” he bellowed. “Isaac! Kill him!” When there was no reaction, he let out a vicious growl. “ISAAC!” He stormed towards them, seizing Isaac’s shoulder. Claws springing back out, Isaac spun, slashing his former Alpha across the chest. Blood spurted out, splattering red across the walls. Surprise flitted across his face. “Looks like I’ll have to kill you both myself.” Farah went to move forward but Isaac shoved him back.

“He’s mine.”

Fangs extended, both flew at one another. Claws, blood, growls. They tussled, wrestling, slashing. Cassius’s pack made no move to help their Alpha. Instead they stood there with strange calculating expressions.

Guess challenging the Alpha was allowed.

With a bark of triumph, Cassius pinned Isaac down, rearing up claws ready. Farah raced forward and clamped his jaws around Cassius’s throat. Dragging him away, Farah bit down harder. Pants heaving through his frame, Isaac got to his feet. “Good bye, Alpha,” he said and tore through what was left of Cassius’s throat.

Silence.

Of the good kind this time.

“So,” Isaac said. “You love me?”

“Shut up, idiot,” Farah growled.

“Make me.” He smirked again as Farah pulled him into another kiss.  It was always going to be an unanswerable question as to where he should definitely lay his loyalty.

But for now, he chose himself.

Impressum

Texte: Naomi M-B
Lektorat: Megan G.
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 29.09.2014

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Elle, Tiffany and Megan for your fabulous help