by Megan Parker
“Not now! She needs to be caught up on what she’s missed!” Zane said as he went to step between them.
Serena’s eyes narrowed and she pulled back her lip. She hated to be answered for! “No, Zane,”—she spat out his name like a bad taste—“I think what I need is to go for a walk.” Serena shot him a look and started forward, walking around him and linking her arm with Zoey’s as she pulled them both towards the exit.
“We can do it another time if it’s a problem...” Zoey whispered as Serena continued forward. Though she was reluctant to follow with Zane’s scorching gaze burning into their backs, but, unable to counter Serena’s determination and strength, was forced through the doors.
“It’s okay! No time like the present, right? Besides look at his face! It’s priceless!” Serena smirked and turned back for a moment to shoot Zane a wink and cackle as his eyes narrowed and he clenched his fists.
“I’m not sure Zane is going to like this...” Zoey chewed on her lip, but continued forward from Serena’s pull.
“Oh, he’s all bark and no bite!” Serena laughed.
Zoey whimpered, “I wish that were true…”
“Just come back soon!” Zane’s growling voice echoed after them, followed shortly after by the sound of his heavy steps as he stomped off.
“Oh! You’re burned!” Zoey frowned as she spotted the irritated red patch on Serena’s back.
They had found their way to a small spot in the forest near the city and sat by a log that gave them a wonderful view of a small pond glowing in the moonlight. Serena sighed, knowing she could easily make it back to her cabin from this distance.
So close to her serenity and solitude with Devon...
“It’s from earlier. I fell asleep in the forest and woke up in the sun. It’s really not as bad as it looks,” she explained, trying to shift her top to cover the spot—hoping she wouldn’t reveal any details about the night before. Though Zane was already upset about the whole thing, he would probably only get angrier if Zoey found out. She smirked at the thought and played with the idea a moment longer.
“Oh! Come to think of it, Zane did seem more agitated than normal! The sun’s always done a number on him because of his curse and all.” Zoey bit her lip and turned her attention towards some nearby flowers.
“Curse?” Serena’s eyes widened and she leaned forward, “What do you mean? Just what’s his problem anyway?”
“That’s… not really my story to tell.” Zoey shook her head and quickly stood, heading off into the woods. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to see if I can’t find something that might help your burn. Stay here.”
Before Serena could respond she had rushed into the forest, disappearing into the thick blackness of the trees.
Serena shivered and looked up into the moonlight. Who—or, more to the point, what—was Zane really?
Should I be nervous? Devon’s voice called to her as his auric visage materialized in front of her, You know that you’ve been thinking about him an awful lot lately, right?
“Not like that!” Serena lashed out defensively before reigning in her emotions. She shook her head, more to herself than to Devon, “I guess it’s… it’s just that I’m having a hard time trusting him and all. Plus, it’s hard to imagine rejoining my father’s clan after…”
There’s something about him; some strange power. I’ve never seen anything like it before, but when I possessed him there was… something else inside. Devon continued, concern weaving through his voice as he struggled to explain.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I know better than to let my guard down, especially not for some douchebag I just met.” She sighed and looked into the water.
Devon stared at her a moment longer before he faded and disappeared from her sight. She knew she had upset him with what she said and she frowned as the loneliness crept up on her.
Where did Zoey go off to?
Zoey hummed softly as she walked into an opening in the forest and kneeled down, absently examining the plants for any that might help with Serena’s burn. Though she was concerned, the excursion was more for Zane and his secret. She sighed, continuing to ruffle through the various plants, considering heading back before the sound of a violin resonated through the area and she looked up to find a source. Though eerie and out of place, the music was both beautiful and heart-wrenching. She stepped towards the direction and began to follow the sound.
Peeking through the trees, she saw a tall, lean man perched against a tree with an empty bottle of vodka lying beside him. The music, she realized, was coming from him, and she watched, entranced, as he played an old, beat-up violin that seemed to be held together solely by the tenderness that its owner played it with. She stared at him for a time, taking in his handsome features. Dark-brown hair, long and unkempt, poured over his head and down to his shoulders; a great deal of the wild mane covering his face as he played. Past the curtain of hair, however, Zoey could make out his fierce eyes—dark and partially hidden behind hair and shadow—as they stared at the neck of the instrument and filled with an animal ferocity. Without meaning to, she felt herself stepping forward. She could see that he was a theriomorph—the shape-shifters responsible for almost every werewolf legend ever told—and a strong one, at that. His dark-green aura writhed and throbbed with a bestial fury and she could sense the raw energy radiating from him as he played. And while the code of ethics for the Clan of Vail would have her see any therion as an enemy, she couldn’t bring herself to fear or hate him. Though, Zoey didn’t mind therions as much as the others in her clan, they were still an enemy, and with the clan’s recent trauma still weakening their fortitude she knew it wouldn’t take much to collapse the system by breaking rules. Still, enemy or not, this particular therion didn’t seem to be engaged in anything to warrant an attack and, since the clan was bound to The Council’s laws she saw no reason to attack.
So lost in her own thoughts, Zoey hadn’t realized the music stopped when her presence had been discovered.
“Who are you?” he growled, his voice as smooth and deep as an angry ocean wave.
She stifled a shiver as it crept down her spine and went to turn away as fast as she had come. This was a mistake! The last thing she or the clan needed was a situation with a therion pack.
“Don’t think so!” She turned to see him barreling towards her, his speed catching her off guard. The calm grace and pacing that he’d applied to his music were gone, replaced by a blur of predatory intent.
His hand clamped down on her wrist like a wolf’s jaws and she cried out as she was yanked back. His hand could’ve easily crushed her entire arm if he was inclined to do so, and the only thing she could do was turn and look back at him. Her eyes locked on to his and she gulped to swallow her encroaching gasp. He was marvelous. Even more so up close than she could’ve imagined. His eyes were not black, but a deep greenish-brown with specs of gold in them that shimmered with the excitement of new prey and, despite being that prey, made her shiver from her core. His face, once calm and reflective on his art, was now drawn tight with the fury and confidence of a killer. She couldn’t stop staring at his beauty and felt herself aware of things she had never before felt. She felt his arm hesitate as well around her wrist. She shook her head quickly, realizing she was ogling.
“Are you done yet?” He asked as a growl emitted from deep within his chest.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to stare.” She finally found her voice—though cracked and shrill—and tried to plead her case. Though there wasn’t much of a case to plea; they both knew she had meant to stare and that she wasn’t sorry for it, either.
Baring his, thankfully, still-human teeth at her, he leaned over and sniffed at her throat. Her breath caught and she held back the urge to cough as the proximity to her windpipe was invaded. Then, with the speed and grace she’d come to expect in such a short time of knowing him, he drew back and snarled. “You’re with them! Vail! You reek of their clan!” He bellowed as he grabbed he
r by her throat in his other hand and began to squeeze. “Spying on me? Hoping to plan an attack on my pack, eh?” She could smell the alcohol radiating off him and her sea-blue aura began to whip out in an effort to escape. His speed and strength were too great, however, and as his choking grip continued to hold the air from her lungs her head began spinning. With a hazy sense of direction and a fading recollection of her training swimming lazily in her oxygen-starved brain, her auric tendrils quickly died and fell limply before withdrawing back into her body.
“L-Let go!” She gasped, struggling to get the words out, “Won’t...hu-urt!” She cried out, the pain seizing her and her voice came out as a soft squeak. She was going to die! Unable to calm her fading mind to focus her aura, her frail body thrashed and clawed in an effort to free itself from the vice around her throat.
But it only made him squeeze that much harder.
“Pretty thing like you, huh? Did they send you? Did you think you could seduce me and gain my trust? Maybe even allow you into my pack even for a fuck?” He growled, his hold loosening only a bit as his eyes moved to her chest.
She whimpered as her body began to shake even more. She couldn’t die, not yet.
He brought his free hand up and traced a growing claw down her neck and onto her chest as he let out a groan. Zoey’s body had stopped shaking and she let out a soft breath as his grasp loosened even more.
He rubbed at his temple with his free hand and blinked his eyes several times, “Dammit. Shouldn’t have drank so much…” He growled and shook his head, looking up at her and his eyes seemed to soften and he began to lower her to the ground. “I… I’m not goi—GAH!”
He cried out and stumbled forward as a bright purple light flashed and collided with his back. Zoey, free of the grip, hit the ground hard with a pained grunt and looked up through her still-unfocused eyes to see what had happened. The therion growled, roaring angrily, and pulled himself up, rubbing at the back of his shoulders. Though the auric blast had been enough to knock him over, he didn’t appear to be hurt by the attack.
“… the fuck?” He turned and snarled at his attacker.
Serena glared from atop a nearby tree branch, her purple aura outstretched and “held” in her hands like a bow. As she watched, Serena moved to draw back the “string” on her semi-transparent, neon-purple bow and her aura shifted, appearing ready to fire. Though the therion couldn’t see the spectacle of her auric weapon, he did have the pleasure of watching her go through the motions.
Zoey frowned. She’d never seen an auric wield their aura that way before, and while it was impressive—albeit unconventional—she had to do something.
“Serena! Stay back!” she shouted, holding out her hands as she stood.
“Don’t think so, Zoey! He was going to kill you!” Serena frowned at Zoey disapprovingly before returning her attention to the therion as she dropped from her perch on the tree and landed in an attack stance.
“Enough of this bullshit!” The therion growled and turned away, rushing off deep into the darkness of the forest. Zoey fought the desire to follow him and scolded herself for even thinking about it. She knew he was dangerous, but she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him.
“That’s right! Run off, you chicken-shit bastard!” Serena shouted after him and went to move forward.
“Serena… please. Don’t.” Zoey frowned, holding her own throat where his hand had clutched her. His hand had softened before Serena came in and Zoey wondered what he had planned. She shook her head quickly; knowing it was better to forget him and move on.
“God! He really did a number on you! Good thing I came after you, huh? You would’ve been killed!” Serena walked over, brushing her fingers across Zoey’s already bruising neck. “Come on, we should tell Zane.”
“No! Don’t!” Zoey frowned, panicked, before forcing herself to smile softly, “I mean, he doesn’t need any more issues than he’s already got. He’d only start to get angry and probably end up breaking something. Besides, you were here to help out and I’m safe now because of that.”
Serena frowned and looked over at Zoey. Something told her it was a bad idea not to tell Zane, but Zoey looked so nervous about his involvement. Besides, she’d known Zane longer and probably had a better idea of how to handle him. She sighed and shook her head. “Let’s head back now. He might come back with others, so it’s not safe to stay here anymore. You really need to be more careful. Also, if you ever need help when I’m around, you can call out with your aura.” Serena started to lead the way and frowned when she realized she was giving survival advice to a clan warrior. She bit her lip and shook her head at herself. Though she wasn’t used to trying to help others and sticking up for somebody else, she already saw Zoey like something of a younger sister and felt driven to help protect her.
Zoey followed after and smiled warmly at Serena as she wrapped her arm around Serena’s. “You’re a true friend, you know that!”
Serena rolled her eyes; “friend” was the last thing she wanted to be right now to anyone. Though, she knew that gesture had made her feel wanted, and that, she couldn’t deny, had made her happy.
Zane growled as he sat in his room looking over Gregori’s old notes. Without meaning to, his right hand fisted in his hair as he glanced through the handwritten documents over and over again; the calculated and meticulous writing of the Vail Clan’s old leader only serving to remind him of what they’d lost. This reminder, coupled with Zoey’s disappearance with the Vailean girl, was enough to make the raging creature within him shriek and thrash about. Zane shook his head and growled; leave it to a woman he barely even knew to urge the already-begging-to-be-freed beast to fight that much harder.
The letters, from what Zane was able to gather from them, had nothing important hidden within them. He growled again, this time hard enough to make his throat hurt. How did Gregori expect him to understand any of this? He continued through the pile of notes and letters and documents; flipping through page after page of Gregori’s thoughts and research. But it all might as well have been written in the language of the ancients; none of the words on any of the pages held any clues of what they were supposed to do now; what he was supposed to do now!
He sighed, looking at the last page in the stack and frowned, chewing roughly on his lip as he toyed with the idea of starting from the beginning all over again and absently letting his torn lip flood his mouth with his own blood. While he wasn’t usually one for dramatic self-destruction, the taste of his own blood gave him something to focus on and provided an illusion of nourishment for the time being. And at least it would put a cork on the beast’s appetite…
… for now, at least.
Shaking his head, he pulled one of the yellowing pages from the pile and, rubbing a layer of exhaustion and irritation from his vision, began to read once again:
Zane,
As my most trusted and powerful protégé, I’m entrusting you with a most imperative order.
In the event of my demise, I’m leaving control of the clan to my daughter, Serena. While she is brash and untrained, her strengths lie with her intuition and instinct. I need you to nurture these and guide her in the right direction to ensure our survival. Her lack of involvement with the clan’s affairs has kept my son silent and hidden, but there is no doubt in my mind that Keith will see this transfer of power as an insult and a challenge. The promise of controlling Vail will surely motivate a response upon the news of my death and he will stop at nothing to find his sister before we do to see whatever plans he has come to fruition.
Be warned: he is cunning and manipulative and will use her and any others he can coax however he sees fit to achieve his goals.
The recent rise in activity from the neighboring therion tribe has me concerned that he’s planning something with them and using his authority as a Council member as a means of gaining momentum. His influences with the Mythos government have grown noticeably stronger, and trusted sources have informed me that he’s using these influ
ences to his advantage. Needless to say, this is due cause for concern. While nothing would make me happier than to see Keith put down, killing him will motivate a tactical response from our superiors. If The Council sees Vail as an enemy, nothing will stop them from taking us apart and Keith’s standing in their ranks will only be strengthened by his claims; he will become a martyr to his own cause and we cannot allow this to happen.
There has never been a time when it was more imperative that you keep your rage under control. Serena will need guidance and Vail will need stability, and, while none are better suited for the task, your steps in this matter will weigh far heavier on the outcome than any you’ve taken before.
You’ve come so far and learned so much, and while I commend you on your progress, I see so much more that can be achieved. I apologize if this letter finds you before I can help you reach those achievements, but there is not a single doubt in my mind that the raging curse within you is nowhere near as powerful as your own resolve.
You’ve never failed to make me proud, and I feel now is the best time to tell you that you’ve become something of a son in my eyes. It’s time you show your brothers and sisters what you’ve made so very clear to me.
Deepest sincerities,
Gregori Vailean
He felt the beast roar from deep inside of him and he grimaced at the internal tremor, clenching his teeth until it had finally passed. As the riot in his head died down, he was reminded of the burning itch in his body as the curse tried to sneak past his defenses; he growled at his own body, rubbing at his forearms in an effort to dispel the sensation. Try as he might, though, he couldn’t calm himself, and another violent growl crept from his throat as he shook his head. Gregori must have known he was going to die when he wrote that. All formalities set aside—any sense of forethought or planning that Gregori was renowned for not being taken into consideration—Zane knew that the old vampire wouldn’t have dropped this shit on his lap if it hadn’t been the right time.
