Dark Light of Mine

by Corwin, John

  Awkward!

  Ryland sped from the pitch of night, several hospital blood packs in his hands. Elyssa took one, her eyes groggy and unfocused. He pulled the top off and tilted it into her mouth as she sucked greedily. I forced back my gag reflex but kept my eyes glued on her. Drinking blood was so gross, but it was part of her life and I had to get used to it.

  "You're a friend, yeah?" Ryland said giving me a once over as Elyssa polished off a second blood pack. "What's your name?" He sniffed again. "And what are you? I'd think twice before lying."

  I returned his little once-over, taking him in. I could sense something in him that was different than what I sensed with Elyssa or normal vampires. He felt a lot more like Stacey than anything else. Underneath his human shell lurked something not quite human. And I couldn't shake the feeling I'd seen this guy somewhere before.

  "Well?" he said again, his rough voice laced with impatience. "I can smell the fear on you."

  I suddenly knew exactly who he reminded me of. The mutton-chop sideburns should've been a dead giveaway. "Are you trying to look like Wolverine?"

  An embarrassed look crossed his face before his serious demeanor recovered. "What's it to you?"

  "Either you're a werewolf or a really big X-Men fan."

  He grinned, baring his teeth and exposing canines that were definitely a bit longer than normal humans. At this point, I figured anyone with disproportionate canines had to be supernatural, although mine were normal and boring.

  "You're an observant one, stranger." He stepped toward me until his face was inches from mine. "Now, how about you tell me who and what you are before I give you a taste of what I am and what I can do."

  Elyssa's arms pressed between us, shoving us apart. I noticed with relief her skin had regained its usual fair hue and her eyes blazed vividly in the dim light from the lamps along the driveway. "Ryland, he's with me, so take your questions and shove 'em."

  Ryland laughed, low and harsh. "No need to get mean about it."

  "Actually, she's being really sweet right now," I said. "I've seen her mean side and it isn't pretty."

  He bared his teeth in a full-on wolf smile. "If you're still alive after that, she must have plans for you."

  Oh yeah. She had plans for me all right.

  Elyssa rolled her eyes. "Leave us for a minute, Ryland?"

  "Sure." He wandered off, though I was sure he could hear anything we said.

  "You should go now, Justin. I'm fine and you need to eat."

  I stared at the house, my instincts screaming at me to get the hell outta Dodge while my heart told me although the timing wasn't exactly ideal, I should do the whole "meet the parents" thing and see just how bad it was. Elyssa seemed to sense what I was thinking.

  "Don't even try," she said her lips pressed tight.

  "I have to meet your parents," I said gently. "I love you. I'd do anything for you. Surely me and your parents can get over our differences."

  "You don't know my dad."

  "Exactly." I took her hand and looked her in the eyes. "I have so many family problems I don't know where to begin. But if I don't at least try to talk to your father, I won't respect myself, and he won't respect me either."

  "You're taking a page out of a romance novel, Justin." She placed her other hand on my cheek and her fiery eyes grew soft. "I love you for that and for your big heart. You want things to work out like they do in the movies. I wish they did." Her eyes drifted to the house. "But they don't. My dad has grown to accept some things over the years but he has a special hatred for spawn."

  "I'm so sick of people judging me based on what I am!" I growled and clenched my fists. "First you, and now your family. Why can't they judge me by my actions instead of other spawn I've never even met?"

  "I don't know his reasons, Justin. I'm sorry it took me so long to get past everything he beat into my head over the years." She kissed me on the lips, and pulled away, her eyes pleading. "Let this wait for another day. Please. Let me talk with him first."

  "And make it look like I'm using you to get him to like me?"

  "It's not like that."

  "Elyssa, just let me talk with him. Give me the chance to do that."

  "This is a horrible idea."

  "I don't know about that, daughter," said a commanding voice from out of the darkness. A figure stepped into the dim light, all six-and-a-half feet of it, muscles bulging beneath a dark long-sleeved T-shirt. The man looked about my dad's age, though his black hair was peppered with gray. "I think right now is a splendid time to settle this." He stared at me with fiery eyes and I knew exactly where Elyssa had gotten her stern looks.

  Chapter 7

  I choked on whatever words had been about to rise from my throat and looked at Mr., um, whatever Elyssa's dad's last name was. I found it hard to believe I didn't even know that tidbit of information. Her father's glare seemed to cut right through me, as though he was staring at my very center and judging me. From the scowl on his face, I could tell he'd already found me unworthy.

  "Hi," I said, barely squeaking it out. Elyssa had told me the last time a guy tried to take her out on a date, he left before she could even get down the stairs. The reason, she'd told me, was because her dad had just looked at the guy. Now I knew how the poor schmuck had felt. Buck up you idiot! You're certainly not impressing him now.

  I stiffened my spine and walked toward him, holding my hand out in greeting. He spared a glance at my hand before crossing his arms and returning his gaze back at my eyes. It took all my might not to look away.

  "Sir, I'd like to talk to you about your daughter."

  He said nothing.

  "Dad," Elyssa said.

  He held up a hand to silence her. She gritted her teeth but didn't say anything else.

  I waited for his response, but he didn't seem in a hurry to give me one. I sensed another presence join us and looked over, expecting Ryland to return. Instead, I saw Leia, Elyssa's mom.

  "There you are," she said, hugging Elyssa while shooting a glare at me over her daughter's shoulder. "I see you've brought company."

  "Unwelcome company," Elyssa's father said.

  Anger sparked in my chest but I beat it back and took a deep breath. "Hello, Leia," I said. "It's nice to see you again."

  She narrowed her eyes. "I can't say the same, I'm afraid."

  "Why is that?"

  "Oh, I don't know…perhaps because you've somehow, despite all her training, tricked our daughter into caring for you."

  Elyssa pulled away from Leia. "He didn't trick—"

  "You will be silent," her father said in a low steady voice. He looked at Leia. "I thought this issue was solved."

  "Elyssa assured me she was done with him."

  "And here I'd thought our daughter was past this foolishness," he said, returning his gaze to me. "It appears we need to solve it once again."

  "Maybe we could sit down somewhere and discuss things like rational human beings. I'm sure I could put all your fears to rest," I said, my voice trembling slightly from a battle between anger and taut nerves.

  "Your lack of humanity makes that impossible," Elyssa's dad said.

  "Thomas, why don't I leave you two to finish this untidy business?" Leia said, gripping Elyssa by the arm and directing her toward the house.

  So her dad's name was Thomas. I'd been expecting something like Hardass McGee or Terminator T1000, considering his attitude.

  "I'm not going anywhere," Elyssa said, jerking free and coming to stand by me. "Justin did not trick me into loving him. I knew him before he changed and I know him now. He's trying to be honorable, but all you're doing is throwing insults in his face."

  "I will not be spoken to that way, young lady," Thomas said.

  "Well you don't deserve any better for talking to Justin like this."

  Leia crossed her arms. "You do not speak to your father like that. Go inside right this instant while we take care of it." Her lip rose into a snarl as she regarded me.

  "So
, now you're calling me an 'it'?" I said, incredulous. "What's wrong with you people? Are you stuck back in the fifties or something?"

  "We know your kind," Thomas said, grinding out his words in a low threatening voice. "I have found some redeeming qualities in most of the major races. But yours lacks anything that could change my mind. You will never have anything to do with my daughter again."

  "Dad!" Elyssa shouted. "Just listen to him!"

  "No. I've heard enough of its lies." He slammed the bottom of his fist against the other palm. "Didn't I teach you how spawn operate? How they gain your trust before betraying you?" He glared at me. "Oh, they might look and act human. But they're demon spawn, girl. Hellborn and tainted by evil."

  "I'd like to think I'm a nice guy," I said. "Obviously a spawn did something really mean to you when you were a kid." I shrugged. "Maybe stole your lunch money or made fun of you. I don't know. I don't care. I love your daughter. That's the simple truth. I would never do anything to harm her and I would do anything for her. Put me through a Templar lying test if you don't believe me."

  "I'm through with this farce," Thomas said. "Elyssa, get inside this instant. You," he said, pointing at me, "get off our property before I have you hauled off."

  Elyssa put herself in front of me, hands splayed protectively. "Don't you dare, Father." Tears trickled down her cheeks. "You keep your hands off him."

  "Or what, daughter? Will you attack your own father to protect this filth?"

  "Think sense, child," Leia said. "Haven't we taught you better?" She wiped a tear away, her face shifting from anger to grief-stricken. "He's spawn! Where did we go wrong in explaining what they are?"

  "It's not a trick," Elyssa said, shaking her head. "It's not!"

  Her mom's face softened as she looked at her. "Sweetheart, that's what they do. That's how they infiltrate your very soul and steal it from you."

  Elyssa shook her head as tears dripped from her cheeks. "No, Mom. I know him. I love him."

  My heart ached so much for her right then I couldn't stand it. But I didn't know what to do. I loved her and this situation was tearing her apart. What if my dad had told me the same thing about dhampyrs? What if he'd hated Elyssa? The thought sent a shard of ice stabbing into my chest.

  "Please, stop," I said, standing in front of Elyssa. I turned to face her. "You were right. This was a horrible idea." The backs of my eyes felt as though they were floating in hot salty pools, but I didn't dare cry in front of these people. "I can't get through to them," I said in a low voice as I shook my head sadly. "I love you and can't stand seeing you so conflicted."

  She pressed her hands to my cheeks, sniffing through her tear-reddened nose. "I told you, Justin. I tried to make you see. They thought I'd ended it. Now that they know I didn't, I'm afraid for us. For our future."

  I gripped her hand tight. "We'll make it work. You're my Buttercup and I'm your Westley. I'll become the Dread Pirate Roberts if that's what it takes to win them over."

  She smiled through the tears and kissed me. Her mother hissed in displeasure. Strong hands gripped my shirt and slung me away. I hit the ground hard and rolled in the grass before coming to a rest next to a fence. It seemed oddly reminiscent of the time Elyssa had tossed me across a gravel parking lot when she'd figured out what I was.

  I rose unsteadily and held up my hands in surrender in the harsh glare of her father. "I'm leaving. Thanks ever so much for the grand hospitality."

  Elyssa looked at me, tears sparkling from the violet light in her eyes. "I love you."

  "I love you," I said, and then turned and walked back down the long asphalt drive, my hands trembling with anger, my heart thudding in agony. I wanted to punch her father in the face. "Well, that could have gone so much better," I grumbled as I reached the perimeter fence and climbed over it. My legs faltered with fatigue and hunger. I had to feed. Now.

  A presence closed in on me. I turned, praying to god I wasn't about to have to fight my way free. Thomas would make mincemeat out of me. Instead, Ryland appeared, a smirk on his face.

  "The demon boy who could love," he said in a mocking voice.

  "I'd toss you a Milk-Bone but I'm all out," I said, turning away from him.

  He blurred in front of me, his face so close I could smell the coffee on his breath. "Funny thing is I know you're telling the truth."

  I threw my hands in the air. "Great. The wolf-man believes me. All my problems are solved."

  "It took me a long while to gain the trust of Thomas Borathen. Believe you me, it was not a fun process."

  "Does he hate lycans too?"

  "Nah, I wouldn't say he hates so much as he doesn't trust anyone until they've proven themselves." He shrugged and the corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. "Except for spawn. He definitely hates your kind."

  "What happened? Obviously one of my dear relatives did something horrible to him."

  "I only heard rumors about what really happened. About Thunder Rock. "

  "Thunder Rock? That sounds like the name of a really bad boy band. Did a group of teenage demon spawn make his ears bleed with love ballads?"

  He chuckled. "Nah, Thunder Rock is a place. Unfortunately, there ain't anyone who will talk about it."

  "Why? Because Thomas Borathen would beat the snot out of them?"

  Ryland shook his head. "No. Because they're dead."

  I sighed long and deep. I needed a good sigh right about then. "And yet again, someone hates me for something I have no control over."

  "I hate to say it, but I feel for you." Then he howled with laughter.

  I slapped my forehead. I was hopeless as ever. Trying to take charge of my life seemed to backfire on me no matter what I did. "Whatever," I said, and walked toward the road, hoping I could find a nice crowded restaurant where I could sit down and recharge.

  Ryland followed.

  I spun on him. "Don't you have guard duty or a nice big bowl of Kibbles-n-Bits to go munch on?"

  He bared his teeth. "Don't mock me, spawn."

  "Are you just making sure I clear the premises?"

  "I'm here to escort you home, wherever that may be."

  "Argh!" I threw my hands up in the air again and tossed in an eye-roll just to be sure the universe understood I was frustrated as hell. "Fine. Tag along if you want, but I have a couple of pit stops to make."

  The first place I went was a Waffle House. I looked like crap with my torn shirt and grass-stained jeans but I figured their clientele wouldn't much care. After polishing off breakfast for dinner while feeding off the emotions of an animated couple who were discussing their plans to win the lottery, I felt much better—or at least as well as I could considering mine and Elyssa's doomed love. I really need to lay off the melodrama.

  "Do you think Thomas will keep her from going to school?" I asked Ryland as he tore into a very rare, very bloody steak.

  He finished chewing, wiped his mouth, and shrugged. "He's an unpredictable man. Then again, he's been around since this nation was born, so I imagine he knows the value of never broadcasting his intent until it's too late."

  "We're talking high school here, not war."

  "Ah, to Thomas Borathen, everything is tactics and war. And you might be a war he wasn't prepared to fight."

  I groaned. "I'm only eighteen and now I have to worry about a lunatic warlord father coming after me?"

  Ryland's fist slammed on the table, shaking the syrup and knocking over the sugar. The restaurant grew silent as everyone stopped what they were doing and stared. Ryland didn't seem to care. He leaned toward me. "Thomas Borathen is a great man. Do not dishonor him with such name-calling."

  I held out my hands in surrender. "Calm down, man. Jeez, it's not like me calling him names is gonna hurt anyone."

  Ryland shoved another piece of steak in his mouth, though his eyes remained suspicious. I drank some water and stared out the window, trying to decide what my next move should be. I didn't want Ryland following me back to Shelton's place. I might be able
to outrun him, but seeing as how he was the first werewolf I'd met, I had no idea if he could sniff out my trail even if I outdistanced him.

  "Why do you think I'm telling the truth about my feelings for Elyssa?"

  Ryland grinned. "I smell the truth, friend."

  "Are you sure it's not just my deodorant?"

  He finished his steak and sat back in his seat. "My old pack leader told me I had the best nose of anyone."

  I sat up straight. "You were in a wolf pack?"

  He nodded. "For a time."

  "What happened?"

  "What do you think happened?" he said, as though the answer should be obvious.

  I guessed almost immediately. "A woman."

  "Isn't it always?" he said, laughing softly. "She was the one our Alpha wanted, but she liked me." He sighed and jabbed a thumb at his chest. "Wolf politics and human sensibilities do not make a good mix."

  "Wolves have to beat the crap out of each other for that, right?"

  "I'm afraid so."

  "Did you like the girl too?"

  He shrugged. "She was very attractive and her scent…it was delicious." His eyes grew troubled. "But I didn't think she was worth the cost to our pack. Unfortunately she chose to push the issue when I rejected her and left me and my Alpha no choice but to decide matters."

  "So the Alpha kicked your butt and you left?"

  He winced and looked down at the bare bone where his steak had been. "He was my best friend."

  I felt for the guy. My supposedly best friends had turned on me. "That sucks, man. I'm sorry."

  "I almost killed him," Ryland said, staring at the plate. "I could always beat him, but I never wanted to lead the pack. I left him bloody and near death after our fight. The others demanded I take over as Alpha." A haunted look crossed his face. "But I couldn't do it. I had to get out of there."

  "I didn't realize werewolves could die so easily."

  His face hardened. "Easy? You've never seen werewolves fight. We aren't weaklings."

  "Stop getting ticked at me. I hardly know squat as it is so I'm bound to jump to conclusions."