by Cloe Cullen
"Alright," she breathed. "Where do we need to go?" Darius lent her a hand, and he pulled her to her feet. She placed a hand on his chest and looked into his eyes. "This was probably our only moment to rest, wasn't it?"
Darius smiled. "There will be more, just not at the moment. Come on, the sooner we speak with Bronwen, the sooner we can come back and rest some more."
Amara nodded and followed Darius out the front door.
Outside darkness reigned in the Oldwood; Amara adjusted her eyes so that she could see better. Darius almost tripped over someone sleeping on the ground. The person's eyes shot open instantly after Darius cursed in surprise. He rolled over to look at the two. "Going somewhere?"
"Gavriel…" Darius said. "What in the name of all that's good are you doing on the ground? There's a reason we have beds inside, you know."
Gavriel shrugged. "I didn't want to disturb you two...just in case…"
Darius grunted. "Unluckily for you, all we did was sleep. Nothing else. You can go back inside now anyway."
Gavriel nodded. "Sounds good." Darius and Amara began to walk away. "Oh, and Darius? Tomorrow, let's talk about your mother."
Amara saw the slight recognition in Darius' gaze and felt his hand tighten around hers. Darius simply nodded, and they took off. Gavriel groaning as he stood.
Traveling through the Oldwood at night proved eerie, but nothing ended up impeding their progress. Within a short while they came upon the archway, spying Remus leaning against it, his arms crossed, and hair swept back.
"What took you two so long?" He called as they walked up. "Wait! Don't tell me. I know exactly what went down between you two."
Darius snorted, but Amara answered. "We were just sleeping."
"Right. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Come on, my father's questioning Bronwen right now, and if we don't hurry Bronwen might not survive to talk to us."
Remus took off without another word, and Amara traded worried looks with Darius as they ran to catch up. Their trek took them through the heart of Gray Creek, silently running past many homes. A few wolf shifters were still out at night, mainly a myriad of guards patrolling, on the lookout for any stray Changelings from the previous day. Many eyed Amara with caution, but many more simply acted like her presence wasn't outside of the ordinary.
Amara still couldn't believe what it felt like to be an outsider. For all her life Amara lived in Red Rock, the daughter of the most powerful cougar in the land. She was used to people paying attention to her, but not because they hated or feared her. Amara wanted to thank the woman who stood up for her the day before a million times over.
Remus led them right up to a house just past the central hub of Gray Creek, a small, square wooden structure that sat between two thick trees, flames licked inside, giving off light through a few windows. Four guards stood out front, two holding torches, and when they spied Remus arrive, they nodded at him but glared at Darius and Amara.
"We're here to speak to the Vampire," Remus announced. He took a step forward, but two guards sidestepped to block his entryway. Inside, Ulrick's voice bellowed in frustration, and the structure rumbled with sounds Amara could only make out to be punches and stomping.
Remus growled low at the two guards. "Move aside, now."
Before they could, however, the sounds from inside the house died down, and someone stomped to the door. Ulrick burst out the front door, anger written all over his face. He looked at Remus, and then Darius, and then Amara, his annoyance growing each time he shifted his gaze. Amara expected him to yell or shout at them, but he simply spoke. "She won't talk for me, so see if she'll open up to you, Remus." Ulrick threw a dirty look Amara's way before taking off.
Remus gulped but looked again at the guards. The guards moved aside, allowing the trio to pass. Remus looked back, not saying anything.
Remus walked inside first, slowly opening the door and gently placing his footsteps. Amara followed second, staying quiet and grim, and finally, Darius rounded out the group.
Inside was quiet now, except for the rattling of chains. Remus came to a stop after entering a large room, his gaze fixed on a crumpled body in the middle of the room. Amara came around and saw it was Bronwen; long brown hair, pale skin, lanky limbs. Bruises and bleeding cuts covered all over her body, and Bronwen shivered on the ground, naked. She looked up at them, her sparkling red eyes connecting with all of theirs, but widening when her gaze landed on Remus.
In one swift movement, she swung herself up, since her arms and legs were bound by the chains, and spat blood on the wooden floor. All three jumped back, expecting her to try and attack them, but instead, she just stared at them...at Remus pointedly.
"Hi," Bronwen simply said.
They all stared at her in confusion. She stared back. "Oh, did I startle you guys? Sorry, that's a bad habit of mine...of all Vampire kind I think. We have a knack for scaring the living daylight out of others.
"That's not…" Darius began.
"You're wounded," Remus interjected. He went to kneel down to get a closer look at her injuries, gently. Again, Amara expected Bronwen to react, to flinch or jerk backward at Remus' touch, but instead, she stayed perfectly still. Even Remus hesitantly touched her skin, glancing nervously at Bronwen. She smiled at him as if it were natural for Remus to tend to her.
"Don't worry, I don't bite," she said coyly. Remus blushed as he grabbed hold of her arm and inspected the cuts and bruises. Bronwen's voice carried a sweet tone to it, one that caressed her earlobes and calmed her soul; Amara became infatuated with the Vampire before them, but she shook it off to regain her composure.
Bronwen noticed and sighed. "Ah, sorry, I'm still relatively new to this...being a Vampire. Sometimes I let my power slip out when I don't mean to."
"So, you're willing to speak to us," Remus said.
Bronwen nodded. "Why, yes I am. You showed me kindness, so let me return the favor."
"What do you mean?" Darius asked. "What power?"
Bronwen tilted her head. "The power of our voices. It's a trait most Vampires have, though its strength differs per individual. My master, for instance, has the trait, but his voice is weak, unlike mine."
Amara shook her head. "I still don't understand. What are you talking about?"
"Did my father do this to you?" Remus asked, breaking into the conversation. Anger radiated from his presence, and his tongue spoke sharply. "Answer me honestly, I need to know."
"You mean the mangy mutt that was in here before?" A hint of scorn filled her voice. "Yes, he was the one who put these marks all over my body."
Remus furrowed his brow, clenching his fists. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, I did help attack your home. I don't deserve anything less. In fact, I thought he went a little light on me. Orpheus generally hits harder."
Everyone was stunned to silence, and she looked around as if the bewilderment was strange. "Right...sorry, again, I'm so used to speaking about my master as if the people around me know exactly what I'm talking about. I haven't had contact with other races for a little over fifty years."
"Fifty years...you don't look a day over twenty!" Amara commented.
Bronwen giggled. "Why thank you, but I've actually been alive for seventy-five years." Again, everyone shook their heads in disbelief. "We Vampires live until an outside force kills us. We can't help it."
"Anything else we should know?" Darius asked.
Bronwen thought a moment. "Well, I can do this." She closed her eyes, and sucked in her breath, focusing. The trio watched as Bronwen's skin glowed slightly, and her bruises and wounds began to close and heal. Within moments, Bronwen was completely healed, as if she were never harmed in the first place. Remus clutched at Bronwen's arm, turning it and looking it over.
"How did you...that's almost like-"
"Magic?" Bronwen said. "It's not magic, just an accelerated healing factor that no other race possesses besides us Vampires."
Darius whistled. "Damn, that almost makes me want to becom
e a Vampire myself." Amara shot Darius a look. "What? I'm just saying that power is useful."
"Let's forget about her healing factor for now," Remus said. He turned back to Bronwen, who leaned forward as if she was excited at the prospect of speaking to him more. "We have some questions for you."
"Let's start with a big one." Darius squatted down, Amara following suit, finding a place on the floor. "How about what Orpheus' plans are?"
Bronwen nodded. "Makes sense you would ask that first. That answer is pretty simple. He swore vengeance upon two members of your clans for stopping him from completing his hunt in the Oldwood."
Amara snarled. "He was hunting children! Of course, we would stop him."
"Ah, and you wouldn't stop him if his targets weren't children?" Bronwen said, a wicked smile on her lips. Amara glared at her. "Oh! I seem to have annoyed you. I'm just having some fun, here, little cat. But yes, that's the reason he gave us. It's petty, but he's our master, so we follow his orders. He wanted to hunt intelligent beings. Since the Bear Clan isn't around anymore, the next best thing would be the Pack and the Pride."
"And did you like hunting children?" Amara continued. "Is that what seduces you Vampires?"
Bronwen's smile faded. "I never said I agreed with him or liked his actions. It would be wise of you to not make assumptions based on information you don't have yet."
Amara's irritation with Bronwen boiled inside her, but Darius' hand touching her arm calmed her.
"So now he just wants to wipe out both the Pack and the Pride?" Darius asked. "Is his goal really that simple?"
Bronwen nodded. "Unfortunately. Orpheus is a Vampire, but he's of a simple mind."
"Then who else is backing him?" Remus flexed his fingers. "All these Changelings...and now you and that other female Vampire...how many more Vampires can we expect?"
"None."
Remus jerked his head at Bronwen. "I'm sorry, did you just say none?"
Bronwen cocked her head. "I did. You don't believe me?"
"I don't believe you."
She sighed. "I'm telling you the truth. Orpheus may be one of the thirteen lords that rule the Blackwood, but he's alone, and the weakest. No other lord cares about his squabbles with the clans of the Oldwood. But he does have a considerable army of Changelings he's gathered over the years...mostly wolves, I believe. A few cougars and panthers."
Remus eyed her, distrust sparkling in his eyes.
"How many Changelings?" Darius asked.
"More than yesterday," Bronwen said. "And they're all directly under Orpheus' control. Once Ambrosia returns to his keep in the Blackwood, I'm sure he'll know exactly how we failed him. He'll probably be enraged."
Darius looked between Amara and Remus, and back to Bronwen. "So where does that leave us? How do we fight back?"
"Well...you did pretty well today, but it was a close call." Bronwen smiled. "It was actually remarkable how lucky you all were that Ambrosia got taken down. If the rest of Orpheus' army were to come through, I'm sure you would all be flattened in no time."
Silence filled the room after Bronwen's last comment. Amara and Darius brooded, thinking of their future, while Remus sat, not saying a word. Bronwen flicked her red eyes between them all, realizing the gravity of her words. "Maybe I shouldn't have said what I said so lightly…"
"Why are you helping us?" He frowned, but Amara sensed no agitation from him, just honest curiosity. "Why will you talk to me, and not my father about all this?"
"You mean besides the fact you're one of the most attractive males I've ever met?" Bronwen asked. Remus cast his eyes downwards, his cheeks burning once again. Bronwen giggled at the sight. "Because you're reasonable, willing to listen. Your father simply shouted his questions at me, really only one question, and paid my well-being no regard."
Remus didn't seem satisfied with that answer, so Bronwen spoke again. "Think of it this way...do you really think you actually captured me? Or did I let you capture me on purpose?"
Remus scoffed. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I hate Orpheus. He treats me like a pile of horse dung. I'm nothing but a pawn to him. Plus, I'm not too fond of his ways. I was looking for a way to leave Orpheus' clutches, but couldn't find a decent opportunity to leave until he gave the order to attack the clans of the Oldwood. I saw my chance and took it."
Remus scratched his head. "So, you pretended to be caught? I'm guessing that's why you brought the chains?"
Bronwen looked down at her bound limbs in surprise, as if she forgot they were there. "Oh, yeah. Actually, Orpheus wanted us to either catch the Alpha's of each clan or catch the two shifters that pissed him off originally. It worked out perfectly for my purposes."
"So how do we stop Orpheus and his army?" Amara asked.
Bronwen gazed at her. "It's obvious, isn't it? Both clans need to stand together, so you won't all be overrun by the Changelings."
Amara let her head roll back. She had known the solution the entire time, but to hear Bronwen confirm her thoughts...the weight of bringing together two clans that have hated each other would shake the way both the Pack and the Pride lived. Both Darius and Remus knew it too since they wore similar expressions to Amara.
"If you're all quite done brooding over your impending demise, I have an offer I want to make you all," Bronwen said.
They all eyed her, and Remus spoke up. "What kind of offer?"
Bronwen smiled devilishly. "The kind where you free me, and I'll help you stop Orpheus. Sounds good, right?"
"Sounds too good to be true," Remus commented. "But given the information you so willingly bestowed upon us, I'll think about your offer."
Standing up, Remus stretched. "For now, let's report to my father. I'm sure he'll love to hear about everything we've learned."
Amara and Darius nodded and followed suit, jumping to their feet and leaving the room.
"Just let me know!" Bronwen called. "It's not like I'll be going anywhere soon."
Chapter Nineteen: Darius
Darius didn't want to admit it, but Bronwen's revelations shook him. Fear had been bountiful in recent days, but none so much as now. Hearing a Vampire casually speak of how easy it would be for her master Vampire and his minions to overrun Gray Creek on its own was more than disconcerting. It was downright bone-chilling.
Walking outside with grim expressions, the guards gave them all strange looks.
Remus led Darius and Amara far enough away from the guards, and then stopped them, looking between them. "Do you two believe everything she told us?" Remus asked.
Nodding, Darius glanced to Amara. "I think I can speak for both of us, but we definitely believe her."
"That's right," Amara said. "Orpheus seems psycho enough to bring the rest of his army this way. And if it's bigger than what we witnessed yesterday…"
Remus' gaze drifted downwards. "Right...and what do you think of her solution? Bringing both clans together? Do you seriously think it could work?"
Darius looked again to Amara, waiting for her to answer. Amara frowned. "Maybe, but like I said before I would need to convince my father, and when we left Red Rock hadn't experienced an attack by Changelings. I don't know if they have had any attacks since we left...I just hope they're okay."
"But first we need to convince your father, Remus," Darius said. "Between the two, Ulrick will be the tougher one to make see reason."
Remus growled. "But it's not just that easy! Even if we do get my father to listen, and your father, Amara, there will still be shifters on both sides that won't be able to get over the fact that both our clans have been enemies for ages now. Knowing my father, even if we can make him see reason, and we somehow get him to work alongside the Pride, I doubt he'll be able to hold himself in check."
"Then let's hope he listens because if not, we're doomed," Darius declared.
Remus and Amara both stared at him grimly.
Light began to shine through the Oldwood off in the distance, and they all watched the darkness recedi
ng before their very eyes.
"My father will be giving a speech this morning, to calm our people from the attack yesterday," Remus said. "If we beseech him in public, I'm sure he'll be forced to agree with us."
"Then let's go get ready," Darius said. "Amara and I will go get Gavriel since I have a feeling we'll need him on our side if things go south. Remus, go report to your father, and if he doesn't listen to you in private, then use his speech as a way to get the entire clan around our idea."
Remus looked unsure, but he nodded in agreement. "Alright, see you guys later." He took off into the breaking dawn.
Amara looked to Darius. "I have a bad feeling about this…" she said. "What happens if your Alpha still won't budge, even after Remus gets the crowd on his side?"
Darius clenched his fists. "We'll burn that bridge when we cross it. Come on, we probably don't have much time."
Just like Remus, Darius and Amara sprinted off into the Oldwood, rushing back to Darius' home.
Gavriel sighed heavily, his sigh weighted with middle age. "You two can't be serious."
Darius crossed his arms. "We are. This is the best, and frankly only, chance we have if we want to survive the next wave."
"It could come at any time," Amara added. "The sooner we get the chance to at least try and work things out with my people, the more time we'll have to try and put aside our differences."
It had only taken a short while to run back to get Gavriel. Now that they were here, Darius and Amara were trying to get Gavriel to back them, and to come with them to see Ulrick's speech. Darius didn't think it would be difficult in the slightest to convince his father.
Gavriel glanced at Amara. "Are you sure your people would agree to an alliance if ours agreed as well? If you are so confident, then why did you have to save Darius from execution and sneak away? You have to know that would only anger your father further, right?"
Amara shook her head. "No, my father chose to execute Darius because the crowd demanded it. I saw recognition in his eyes when Darius confirmed my story. He at least realizes that Vampires and Changelings now enter our forest, but since the people haven't been threatened by an army yet, the biggest perceived danger is the Pack. All we need is for the Pride to recognize Orpheus and his army as the bigger threat, and we'll get them to join with the Pack for protection."
