Crimson Bite (Hillcrest Supernaturals Book 1)

by Ben Alderson

  I nod and, finally, push past him. I can't hear anymore tonight. I know he doesn't approve of my extracurricular activities, and if I give him the chance, he would spend the next decade lecturing me on the risk I'm taking by breaking the treaty.

  But in these moments, when I experience the simplest moments of a human existence, it’s worth the risk. Even so, I’m reminded of the time Chad discovered my secret.

  "Even if one vampire breaks the treaty, it can be voided. Do you want that? Do you want a war?" he asked me the night he smelled a fresh kill on my breath.

  I was too stubborn and too hurt by our parents’ sudden unexplained death to answer him.

  "The whole family will be implicated if the council finds out. By doing this, by being this reckless, you're not only risking your life, but you're risking mine too."

  George

  The walk to Old Oak is solitary. Time away from Mother, work and the incessant coven invitations is a blessing. It’s a bonus that I get time with Savi. From the moment I wake ‘til sleep, I play the devoted son, which, in my mind, is a curse, not a gift. With Mother’s persistent reminding at home and my teachers and peers vying for my attention and companionship at the Academy, I can’t escape what it means to be the latest of the Alcott bloodline. But their admiration isn’t for me; it’s for my power. There is only one person in this entire world who I trust, one person I happily call my friend, who I know, with all fibers of my being, would never use me.

  Savi.

  When I’m with her, I don’t think about my obligations. With her, I am free to become anything I want to be. And I believe, I hope, she feels the same about me.

  Hillcrest is in the fringes of autumn, but even though there is a sharp bite of the cool night air, when there is a full moon, a witch is always warm. The bright rays kiss my sleeveless arms and warm me. It has something to do with our power being innately gifted from the earth. Mother used to tell me tales of a time when the moon fell in love with the earth, and their union provided witches with extra energy during such nights. Those were only stories, a way of explaining the unexplainable through the means of fantasy. But whatever the reason for this reaction to the moon, I am thankful.

  I opted to wear a short-sleeved, black t-shirt, one of many I own. In fact, black is practically the only color in my wardrobe—besides the blue-washed jeans that I adopted as my favorite this season. My black boots are laced tightly, leaving no room for my toes to wiggle. As I walk, they cause the brown-toned leaves that cover the ground to crunch and snap, informing the forest of my presence. Wolfsbane Forest is thought to be safe, but at night during a full moon, it is a different place altogether.

  It is only a short walk up the main path to the cliff near the tree Savi and I named Old Oak when we were children. It’s a place far enough from reality that we could relieve ourselves of the pressure of life and far enough into Bane’s Forest that no one with a lick of sense would come looking for us—not with the forest being werewolf territory. Long ago, I made my own charm, one that I weaved from my power and securely locked around both Savi and me. It allows us to pass through the dense woodland without being sensed by the wolves. Even during a full moon, as long as we stay out of their way, the wolves would never find us.

  My legs burn as I walk the steepest part of the hill toward the cliff. Even with the charm, I watch the shadows of the forest with intent. Looking for any signs of lurking beasts with hungry golden eyes. It’s still early enough in the evening that the shifting would not have happened, but rogue werewolves do not follow the rules. It is not unlikely that they could be hunting now, trying to get the goods before the rest of their kin.

  I reach Old Oak, and I believe Savi is not here. That is until she steps out from behind the tree with a sheepish grin.

  “Well, well, here I was thinking you would be flying in on a rickety broom,” Savi jokes, offering me a playful smile. Her dark-brown hair is soft and thick over her narrow shoulders, and her pale skin glows the same tones as the moon that hangs behind her.

  “Since when have I ever used a broom to do anything but sweep a floor?” I wink, pulling her into a hug. It’s been a few days since I last saw her, and I couldn’t help myself. “Hell, when have I ever swept a floor?”

  “Good point. The George I know would never clean. Not when his mother can pay for someone else to do it.”

  I knock my shoulder into hers. “No talk of Mother or family here. You set that rule, remember?”

  “Rules.” Savi smirks. “If we followed rules, we wouldn’t be here, about to party with college humans who are careless and blind to the beasts that lurk around them.” She grabs onto my arms and pulls me farther into the forest. A flickering of orange light amongst the trees illuminates the darkness.

  “A bonfire,” I say. My stomach turns, but I hide my discomfort at the thought. “If that doesn’t scream ‘werewolves we are here, come and get us’ I don’t know what does.”

  “We will be fine. You worry too much.” Savi’s red eyes are lined heavily with liner.

  “How did you know about this party anyway? I can’t imagine you got a personal invite. I clean as much as you hang around with other people.”

  “What do you mean you can’t imagine it? I might not be George Alcott popular, but I know people.” She playfully bites her lip.

  I laugh, hearty and full of honest emotion. “Humans, Savi. We are talking about humans.”

  “Okay, okay. I didn’t exactly get a personal invite, but I did overhear some girls gossiping about it at Crest Coffee. I thought it would be a good way to kill some time and enjoy the night.”

  Crest is the only coffee joint in town. It became a regular haunt of mine, even if I didn’t have a taste for coffee. It is not uncommon for tourists or mundane visitors to use it as a stop off. I could lose hours sitting there, eavesdropping on the conversations about trivial issues the humans had. They never worry about the next time their mothers would bring a vampire back to torture; they never face the pressure to join one of the local covens. They have no idea that it’s basically turning into a war between those who want someone from the Alcott line in their coven.

  “Savi, it’s a full moon. What about the wolves? One sniff of this party and they will be like flies-to-crap. This is a feast they’re begging to devour.”

  “Come on,” Savi drones, hooking her arm in mine and pulling me down the beaten track toward the party. “Would you stop worrying? You know the wolves will not risk breaking the treaty by killing humans on Hillcrest land. You need a drink, and trust me, I need a dance.”

  “Who is the one complaining now?” I say.

  I want to ask her why she needs a dance so badly, but I can’t. That is another one of our rules: never ask about our day. We used to, but after constant negativity, we opted to pretend our sucky days never happened.

  It is not long before the bass from music reaches my ears. The ground shakes, pine needles bouncing from the forest bed in rhythm. Even the trees seem to sway in the windless air, dancing to the alien beat of music that rarely reaches them here.

  “If I knew they were going to play this, I would never have suggested coming.” Savi scrunches her nose in displeasure. I know her taste well enough to know she appreciates a lighter base. On the other hand, I can appreciate this music. I like the way the sound travels up my legs and spreads across my veins. It’s how I feel when I use my magic.

  “It is not that bad and you know it,” I say.

  The humans who are running the party are ballsy. They set up the bonfire right next to the cliff face that drops down to Raven Cry Lake. One drunken step too far and it would be death for whoever fell over its side.

  “Do you recognize anyone?” I ask Savi as we walk into the bustling crowd of swaying bodies. Some of the boys have shadows of beards, and the girls are tall, cigarettes in hands and smoke seeping out from their painted lips. They must be around our age—eighteen or nineteen. Their youth would explain why the party is so far into Bane’s Forest.
Being of illegal age to drink is something humans kept secret. I’m happy when I realize don’t recognize the many people chatting, dancing, and laughing around us as we flutter throughout the party. The boys of Hillcrest were either boring or not witches. But these boys... Well, I have my pick and freedom to let my eyes wander.

  “Look at him! He’s your type.” Savi points to a ginger-haired boy with a red-and-green checkered shirt that is unbuttoned slightly, showing off his broad chest. “I dare you to—”

  “Oh no. Not tonight. No dares,” I interrupt.

  “How else are we going to have fun?” she asks.

  “Dance, drink, and pretend we’re human,” I say.

  Savi shrugs. “Then you wait here, and I’ll get us a drink. But don’t be shocked if I ask that boy if he has a number to pass onto you.”

  “Savi…” I groan, rolling my eyes as she walks backward, winking.

  I don’t mind being left alone. It gives me a moment to watch the people around me as if I am no more than a shadow cast across the forest bed by the bonfire. No one pays me mind. I like it like that.

  A few boys stumble past me, intoxicated by drinks or the vibes from the party, I didn’t know. One bumps into me, sparing me a snarl as if it were my fault.

  “Watch it,” he snaps.

  I chuckle to myself, turning my back on him.

  “Something funny?” He spins me around, his touch as rough as his temper.

  I wave a dismissive hand. “Nope.” I try and turn my back on him again, which only pisses him off more.

  “Sure as h-hell s-sounds like it.” He stumbles over his words, fists clenched and ready at his side. “Why don’t you… you share it with us.”

  “Hell. Now that’s an interesting concept. One often wonders if the beasts that roam around hell are real. Imagine starting a fight with one without ever realizing it until it is far too late.”

  The drunken man points his thumb at me and turns to his companions. “Think we should shut this freak up.”

  My blood boils in an instant. Freak. I hate that word.

  I clench my own fists, which the boy notices.

  “Looks like our little freak is ready for a fight as well.”

  I look at the boys through squinted eyes and whisper, “You have no idea.”

  The drunken man strikes, reaching for my t-shirt, which he balls up in his fists, pulling my face close to him. His breath is as striking as the dark circles around his dull eyes. His build is bigger than mine, taller and muscular. There wouldn’t be a chance of me fighting him without magic—something humans are forbidden to know about. It is as strict as the rule for not killing other supernaturals. But that rule has an exception: if a supernatural has already killed another supernatural, vengeance can even the score.

  “I suggest you let me go,” I tell him, waiting for Savi to return at any moment. She could twist this boy into a pretzel and leave him on the ground. For a small girl, her vampirism gives her strength unmatched by mere humans.

  The two boys standing behind the intoxicated boy clap, starting their chant low and building up until they are practically shouting. This gets the attention of the rest of the crowd, who watch with drunken hunger in their eyes.

  “Do it,” one of them tells the boy, who is now inches from my face.

  “Yeah, hit me.” I reach for his exposed wrist and touch it. It is all I need to retrieve his name from his cloudy mind. “Michael, do it.”

  A moment of confusion crosses Michael’s face. “How do you know my name?”

  I can’t stop the corners of my lips from turning up. I sense the tingle of a vampire’s glare on the back of my neck. Savi is watching, stalking from the unseen shadows of the party, waiting for her moment to pounce. In the darkness, she blends into the shadows. In the night, the humans wouldn’t notice her red irises, but this human, a drunken college student teetering the edge of bursting my personal space bubble, would be too close. He’d see she’s different. I shake my head, silently telling her to stay back. We’ve been friends so long I know I don’t have to speak aloud for her to understand my silent message.

  “I asked you a question.” I cringe from his harsh breath.

  “Hit him.” The scream comes from the group that had gathered to watch. “Mike, do it!”

  I see Michael grit his teeth, and I know it’s coming. The veins in his neck bulge as he lifts his arm.

  The bated silence of the group breaks as the howling begins. My heart almost stops. A sharp sting permeates from my knee as Michael drops me to the floor. I’m pinned beneath his body.

  “What was that?” Michael glances back at his friends as more hollowing fills the surrounding forest.

  “Sounds like wolves wanna join the party!” someone shouts.

  Everyone laughs but me.

  I try and scramble backward to Savi, who I’m sure is waiting for me so we can escape with our lives, but Michael turns back to me as I try to wiggle free.

  “Not so fast. We are not done with you, party crasher. Are those your friends in the forest trying to scare us?”

  Friends. I could laugh at the statement. No one is friends with the wolves. The howling stops, which gives Michael a new sense of control. He laughs as the heat of the bonfire gets warmer against my back. I am cornered between him and the flames. Instantly, I regret telling Savi to stay away. I consider yelling for her, but I fear she may be in the midst of her own battle.

  Michael stares at me, the fire reflecting in his gaze. “Lost for words? Looks like someone is finally scared silent. This is what you get for coming uninvited.”

  “You all are the uninvited ones,” Savi says as she emerges from the woods. Her voice distracts Michael, and I push him off me. I stand, readying myself as I look into the dark forest. I can sense the creatures watching us.

  “And you are?” Michael asks. “Another one of his friends? Did you try to scare us off with those wolf noises? Not going to happen, beautiful.”

  “No, and my name is not beautiful,” Savi says through gritted teeth. Her fists are clenched at her sides, and I pray she won’t do something reckless.

  “You don’t expect me to believe the noise came from actual wolves, do you?” he asks, arms crossed and lips curled into a prideful smile.

  Another howl sounds from behind me. Frozen in fear, I don’t turn. Michael leans into me, squinting at the woods beyond the bonfire. “Is that—”

  The wolf leaps through the flames, landing on top of Michael. His screams of horror are soon stopped as his throat is locked between the jaws of the werewolf. The copper scent of blood fills the air; it’s so thick I can taste it.

  I see the blur of black and gray as more werewolves rush into the party, causing everyone to erupt into screams. All around me, humans fall, covered by the beasts that bite and rip into flesh and bone. Mockingly, the full moon winks from behind the clouds, causing my skin to warm. I raise my hands, calling forth my magic until the trees bend under my force.

  Winds rush throughout the screaming crowd, powerful and true. I aim for the biggest werewolf, sending it far into the night sky. Its howl causes all the werewolves with blood-stained snouts to look up as their kin disappears over the face of the cliff.

  The forest explodes into anger and teeth.

  Savi

  The plastic cups of stale booze slip from my hands, splattering to the ground. The cheap beer splashes on my feet, drenching my shoes in dollar store liquor. I was waiting, in the shadows, where no one but George could sense me. His altercation caused a scene, and I knew the last thing he'd want is a red-eyed vampire breaking up a fight.

  I heard them in the distance, but I never expected them to attack—not with an ironclad treaty like a noose around their necks. It's worked as a leash for decades. What changed? Taking the occasional life is something easily hidden, but exposing a pack of wolves and murdering dozens of tourists during the full moon is just stupid. The council won’t have to do much digging to uncover the truth of what happened here tonig
ht.

  The ground rumbles as they approach. I blink and dozens of wolves dash before my eyes. Even with my heightened senses, they manage to surprise me. Under the full moon's power, vampires and wolves are matched in strength, but not ferociousness. They're savage by nature, and in wolf form, that nature is amplified. I may be a monster, but I’m nothing like them.

  The plastic cups crack under my weight as I fully emerge from the trees. I argued with the intoxicated human only seconds ago, and already, he’s dead. The stench of his blood thickens the cool night air, and my stomach grumbles in response.

  I search for George. My heart sinks when too many seconds pass before I find him. I saw him only moments ago, fighting with the intoxicated frat boy. Where could he have gone? What if he's hurt? I push through the crowd, ignoring cries for help. Agony stings in the pit of my gut—not for the many victims falling around me, but for George. I fear only one life lost tonight.

  I see him in the distance. I try to call out to him, but as I do, the air shifts. It’s a sensation I’m familiar with. When George and I were kids, we would practice our abilities on each other. I’d use my strength to outmaneuver his magical attacks. But his power then is no match for his strength now.

  I swallow the knot that forms, knowing I can do nothing but wait for the inevitable. At first, it's only pin pricks, like a thousand needle points stabbing me everywhere at once. This is the moment I fear; the pain will only grow worse as time passes. For now, it is manageable… but this is only the beginning.

  George’s magic is a brutal attack against my heightened senses as the elements bend to his will. Air, being his most yielding power, makes daggers out of a slight breeze. I fall to my knees as his magic lashes out at me. He’s told me stories of the power passed down over the generations of Alcott witches, and as the sole heir to that fortune, when angry, he is a force to be reckoned with. Thankfully, I’ve never been at the brunt of that blade.