So many things simply don't add up or seem strange. How no one has noticed is beyond me. Surely they are not so blind that they miss the signs of...honestly I'm not sure of what yet but I know it isn't good. I'm not one to jump to conclusions but what I know for certain is Hope needs our protection.
Even though it is true that integration will connect us, that's not what I meant when I insinuated we would be family soon. It will be some time until this sweet scared girl takes her place as Luna. Until then, we will do what we can without raising too many suspicions.
If only she knew how important she is to us. Regardless of whether or not we liked her, we would do anything for her. For our future Luna. Thankfully, I've quickly come to feel connected to Hope, as has Carter. Not that he'd admit it out loud. She's shy and reserved but witty and undeniably kind. There's a strength there beneath the surface that I doubt she herself even realizes.
Taking two steps at a time down the stairs I go join Carter to wrap up any last minute plans. All we want is to make this transition as seamless as possible. Once we are back in our own territory, We'll start uncovering whatever secrets seem to be lurking within this once great pack.
Chapter 10
Hope
"Hope?" My head snaps up surprised to hear the voice that is trying to catch my attention. I thought I was alone; the teens are attending their last day of school before the big move happens the day after tomorrow.
I am aware that most of the adults are not at work but packing instead and making last minute arrangements. Regardless they are nowhere near here. That is also the reason why David and Carter aren't hovering around me, like they seem to be doing constantly this past week or so.
Which is why I used the opportunity to come out here to read in the garden. I've looked out upon it wistfully, wishing to spend an afternoon lounging about. Ironically enough, it's situated in the backyard of the place I've resided in since turning twelve.
It is beautiful and seems somewhat out of place next to the overly lavish cold home that towers over it. The garden is full of beautiful ancient trees forming a sort of canopy to veil it from the overwhelming summer sun. It is very well maintained with flowers of every kind and color. Some of exotic origins, imported from distant lands.
In the middle, there's a circular fountain with swing like benches around it. That area nestled within the heart of the garden is almost completely hidden from view, giving a sense of peace and security as if you are in a completely different place transported from the here and now.
That is why I am astonished when I look up to find Daniel. Instantly, the peace is gone. I cower away attempting to shuffle backward, wanting as much space between us as possible.
"Shh shh no don't worry". He speaks softly and extends his hand out grabbing onto my arm enveloping it in a gentle hold. "See nothing to worry about, I just wanted to talk to you". Daniel smiles sweetly, sitting down next to me still holding on to my arm.
I am shocked and confused by his behavior. Despite his disarming smile and non-threatening demeanor, I'm not stupid enough to fall for it. He is good though, I'd almost believe him if it wasn't for the malicious intent hidden behind his eyes.
"See Hope, I'm really not that bad. We just got off to a rough start. This is an amazing garden huh? My mom designed it herself". I stay quiet merely nodding my head and suppressing a sigh of relief as he lets go of my arm.
The relief is short lived though as he starts trailing his fingers over my cheek making my discomfort and anxiety fly through the roof. "Why did you choose to come out here Hope?" His question bewilders me, what is wrong with him? I want him to stop touching me, drop the act and get to whatever he really wants.
His fingers which had been barely hovering over my cheeks now have considerably more pressure behind them. It's a clear warning that I can't get through this by being silent and refusing to talk. Whether I like it or not, I need to be a part of this seemingly pointless conversation.
"It's a nice place, I'm done with my chores so I wanted to read for a bit". I'm immensely proud that I was able to keep my voice even and completely devoid of emotion. I will not give him the satisfaction of my fear. He nods absentmindedly, cupping my neck in a loose hold, running his fingertips like shadows over the side of my neck.
"What about this move, what do you think of it?" I tilt my head the slightest bit trying to figure out what he's got going on in his head. All the same, I rack my brain for the most diplomatic answer humanly possible. Seeing impatience flit across his features I speak up
"I'm happy with whatever is best for the pack". There, that shouldn't get me in any foreseeable trouble. Satisfied with my answer I brave a look at his face and see I may have spoken too soon. "That's all well and good sweetheart, but I'm here to remind you that for you, nothing has or will ever change". His once loose grip is now tightening painfully cutting off my airway.
I uselessly try to pry his hand off my neck. "If even a word gets out, I will make you suffer like you cannot imagine". Daniel's words are low and deadly, swimming in my mind which is slipping further and further away every second I'm deprived of sweet oxygen.
Clawing at his hands is futile, he won't let go until he wants to and in my weakened state, there's nothing I can do and that makes me even more furious. Just like that, seconds from having the dark spots in my vision consume me completely, he lets go.
Gifting me with one more look of disgust he takes off leaving me there. Gasping to fill my lungs with air, rubbing my sore neck. I refuse to cry and instead lift myself off the ground, dust off my jeans and go inside to apply some medicinal ointment.
Since my naturally rapid healing which we all poses isn't working as it should, minutes after I get hurt I need to apply the medicinal cream to mimic the healing process. Any later than that and it won't work. I definitely cannot have this handprint-shaped bruise to be here when we set off to leave or there will be inevitable questions.
Going inside I fetch the cream and apply it generously and cover it with gauze. Thankfully it's a chilly day so I can put on my turtle neck sweater, cardigan, and fluffy sweatpants. I don't care that I look like the clothes is swallowing me.
It's not like anyone cares how I'm dressed. Plus, it's getting harder and harder to hide the fact that I'm always cold. My body has stopped retaining heat which is alarming as our bodies tend to run hot. Soon it'll start getting warmer and I won't be able to dress like this without bringing unnecessary attention to myself, so might as well enjoy the slight warmth of them before it's gone.
I'm glad to see Daniels car pull away when I peer through the window. I'm peacefully alone once again and decide to go to bed. Every part of my being aches constantly, I do my best to keep it hidden but now I'm alone and there's no need to pretend.
I let my body fall unceremoniously onto my bed and cringe when I hear my bones crack into place then relax as much as I possibly can. I afford myself the luxury of a nap, remembering to be up in time to make dinner.
I am standing before a full-length mirror. The mirror itself made of very expensive looking carved African Blackwood laced with gold. The room is befitting it adorned in ivory, gold and black furnishings. A large four poster canopy bed, that looks more like decoration than a sleeping place, is ceremoniously placed against the back wall towards the middle.
It is of the same African Blackwood with a green silk canopy, matching the bed sheets contrasting it with the ornately designed black lace duvet and pillows that sport an emerald green base color beneath the lace design. The ceiling is incredibly high with a classical mural hand painted on it and gold crown moldings, the crystal and gold chandelier dimmed giving the room an eerie glow.
The room is massive and on the far wall, there is a throne carved from Blackwood with the same Gothic flourish held by the rest of the room. I feel as if I am experiencing this outside of my own body. Is this what it feels like to know you are dreaming while it is happening? Or is it something else entirely?
For the first ti
me since I found myself here, I bother to look directly into the mirror and gasp. The reflection is of me but yet it's not. My body is long as always but I look healthy and lean with sensual curves.
My hair looks beautiful and luxuriously shiny. No longer are my eyes dull but there is life back in their watery depths. I am wearing a sleeveless mermaid style nude chiffon dress with a v neckline .
The dress is adorned in black lace and beading. Enough to be breathtaking but not too much to keep it from appearing tacky or over the top. It is perfection and looks as if it's made for me.
"Stunning my love". Through the mirror, I can see a man walk up behind me. His skin is pale, body muscular in a black dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves, the three top buttons undone and black dress slacks.
His hair the same color as his clothing falls to his neck ending at chin level. A smirk playing on his lips matching the cocky look that his eyes posses as they roam over me. He exudes cockiness. Right then I realized I'm not in control of this dream.
I'm more like a bystander meant to watch as the events unfold. My dream self growls lowly facing the man "what do you want with me leech?"
Oh god, this man is a vampire? This is not good. Although, I must say I like my dream self very much.
The man...well... vampire, chuckles. Clearly feeling amused. "Isn't it obvious love?"
My dream self narrows her eyes and although she indignantly raises her chin and squares her shoulder she also takes a step back distancing herself from the dark vampire. Gorgeous undoubtedly but a vampire nonetheless.
"What's obvious is that I don't appreciate being played with. Shifting and ripping your throat out is sounding more and more appealing right about now so either explain or go to hell". Her voice is strong and commanding devoid of all fear instead she carries herself with a deadly grace that I wonder if I'll ever really have.
Despite that, his smirk is permanently etched on making my dream self want to slap it off his smug face. In the blink of an eye, he is no longer in front of me across the room. Instead, I can feel his breathe on my neck as he twirls a strand of my hair between his fingers making me tense. But I wasn't, we weren't, expecting his next words.
"Because you're mine".
I'm awoken abruptly by the feel of having my body pulled out of bed by my hair. Through my peripheral, I see the time. Oh, shit! I overslept and by my current predicament, it's obvious David and Carter aren't here so their presence can't save me this time.
Go figure, they spend all week glued to my side and the moment I could really use them they have to be busy. Without looking I already know its Daniel who's dragging me to the kitchen by my hair. I could kick and scream and cry but that would be pointless so I suck up the pain and keep quiet, not wanting to worsen the situation.
He throws me down on the kitchen floor and my head hits the corner of the counter on my way down. Blood trickles down blurring the vision in my left eye. "Get up bitch! and make us food. I'm hungry and not in the mood to look at your face"
I mumble a weak 'yes Alpha' wanting to pacify his anger and wait until he has left to stand up. I clutch onto the counter-top to keep myself upright since my body has other ideas. Resisting the urge to pass out I grab the first aid kit and fix myself up then hide the bandage covered injury with my bangs before getting to work.
I fervently thank the moon goddess that I was able to prepare the table, make the food and have it dished out just in time to get back to my room with a small plate, seeing as I couldn't handle eating much after years of being denied regular meals. A few bites with sips of water is all I can handle so I put it all aside vowing to take it down to wash it with the rest of the dishes when everyone goes off to bed.
Waiting for everyone to finally turn in is horribly boring. They always do this, disregard the fact that I still need to clean up after them. I feel impatient and antsy. My whole body is pulsating with a weird sensation like a wanna claw my way from the inside out and I realize what it is.
For so long I haven't been able to let my wolf out, she's been the one keeping me alive and sane but as time goes on it gets harder to reach her. She's alive and well but my sickened state dulls my connection with her. She's desperately clinging on and wanting to break free. She would always tell me how we're destined for something so much greater than this.
I need to calm down and get myself together so I fish my pen and lyric book from under my mattress. It's silly to hide it but it contains so much of who I am. I'd be devastated to have someone here find it and use it to ridicule me and then most likely destroy it.
Opening it up leads me to think of home and how sad it is that I have not been able to visit again since moving out. My real home, where I grew up with the love of my parents.
The special place that is full of nothing but great memories. A sudden spark of inspiration ignites as I hum an indistinct tune to myself. Pen meets paper and I write the words that match up to the tune that's flitting around in my head and then whisper it to myself to see how it sounds.
I start to notice how quiet the house is indicating that everyone's asleep so I make my way down. It takes forever but I hum lost in thought playing around with lyrics trying to find what sounds best.
Picking up all the dishes and taking them to the kitchen, cleaning up the entire dining room and finally starting on the dishes takes almost two hours. An hour later I'm dead on my feet, my body and mind begging for sleep but I need to finish. I'm almost done either way. To keep away I start humming again singing softly
Wet dish, scrub it with the soapy sponge until its clean, rinse, dry, put it away and the cycle repeats with the next dish. Singing under my breath the song forming, full of the pain I've endured these last five years, and the yearning to return home where I knew love and peace.
"Can I hear more of the song? It's very.....enlightening" I gasp and drop the plate I had been holding just to have it caught by my surprise guest, also known as Beta Carter. I blush, feeling embarrassed at being caught.
He hands it to me and I take it gingerly, keeping my eyes down "Thank you". I store it in its rightful place to buy me some time before facing him, awkwardly clearing my throat. "So uh, how long have you been there?"
"Long enough, so how about that song?" He crosses his arms over his chest leaning casually against the counter. Wanting to completely change the subject I ask him the second question that had crossed my mind upon discovering his presence. "Why are you here?" Carter arches an eyebrow turning serious
"I could ask the same thing, after all, last time I checked most girls aren't up at close to three in the morning single-handedly cleaning the mess made at dinner by the ENTIRE youth pack house. So, how about you tell me what's going on?"
I look away biting my lip. That dish had been my last which is a good thing. "Just trying to help" I mumble.
"You don't even believe that" he scoffs mockingly making me fix him with a heated look. "I'm just pulling my weight, OK. Just let it go".
Throwing the dishcloth in the sink I turn on my heels and get to my room and under the safety of my covers as quickly as I can. I'm infinitely glad the Carter let me leave; I couldn't handle his questioning and suspicious gaze. It was too much, it's all too much.
I just need to sleep; tomorrow will be a new day. Yawning I rub my sleepy eyes and drift off to the land of dreams except this time there was no cocky vampires or alternate versions of me.
Chapter 11
Hope
I walk around lost in my own thoughts. Tomorrow we leave, bright and early.
Everything at the moment seems so uncertain, I'm caught firmly between optimism and pessimism.
The only thing that is clear to me is how daunting this upcoming change is. I grasp my pendant tightly through the fabric of my sweater.
It still amazes me how much comfort it brings me. I try to focus on something but out of nowhere my world spins and my vision goes black and flashes come to me.
I'm standing in the middle of a dense forest. Morning
dew still clinging to the leaves moistening my fingertips as I touch the tiny droplets.
There is an ethereal almost supernatural feel to the place giving off a sense of peace and tranquility instantly putting me at ease. The ground is covered in freshly bloomed flowers, coming to life at my touch. The sight is bewildering and confusing but amazing all at once.
I watch astonished as leaves grow back onto dry trees. The forest looks as if the color was drained back into it, transforming it into a picturesque landscape straight out of a painting. Sunlight now breaking through the trees, warming up my skin.
Soon I've let my feet carry me, a swift walk turns into a full-on sprint through the trees.
My hair billowing out in the wind, a laugh of pure joy escaping my smiling lips. Once again I feel like a carefree little girl spinning in circles with arms out wide and head tilted back soaking up the moment. Wishing I could stay suspended in time.
Willow From The Ashes (Children Of The Moon Book 1) Page 4
