Species

A mask

Claira started the walk back to her room from Diego's cell, she was chewing her thumb nail as she walked up the stairs. She tried to walk quietly but stopped on the first floor, her senses were on high alert as she listened closely. She heard the sound of clinking dishes in the kitchen and fried meat. Claira wasn't paying attention as she just stood in the walkway of the stairs, there was a bump on her back as she stumbled forward.

"Hey!" She  looking behind her. She was stun to see Jason looking at her, his stare was blank. "Oh...hey Jason." She dropped her hand from her mouth, and smiled up at him.

Jason looked taken back as well, he had only had sweat pants on, as he rubbed her eyes clearing the sleep from them. His stare was distant on her, but he focused on her face as his nose twitched when he inhaled. "Hi." His greeting was short and quick turning from her he walked into the kitchen, ignoring her.

Claira felt a small pain in her chest, from the lack of response she got from her brother, then flashbacks of last night rolled threw her mind. The kiss with Jason not making her feel much and the kisses she shared with Diego making her knees weak. Diego's lips on hers soft and tender. Her lips turned up in a hint of a smile, but quickly vanished.

Lifting her shirt to her nose she inhaled, she knew she needed to change but she hadn't gotten the chance yet. Diego's scent lingered lightly on her cloths, but is wasn't too noticeable. If anyone asked, she could say it was because she hadn't taken a shower yet since last night. 

She took a deep breath before walking the last few steps into the kitchen, she turned greeting her fellow pack mates and family. Sitting at the round table she saw Jason hovering over his bowl of cereal, Sonia siting to his right as usual but this time she traced her nail over his arm whispering something in his ear. Disgust flooded through Claira like sour milk. But why... Maybe it was because Jason had just told her how he felt, and yes maybe she didn't exactly reciprocate the same feelings. But maybe because Jason didn't give her the same attention this morning like he normally did, it bothered her. But the thought of Sonia on Jason still bugged her. She must had been staring too long because Jason looked up at her and gave her a small smile before turning back to his cereal still ignoring Sonia.

Looking past the table to the kitchen it self, Martha was making hash browns and it made Claira smile "Ma your the greatest!" She bounced over to her excitedly grabbing a plate as Martha placed a heap of food on it.

Martha smiled, and continued to hum as she cooked, taking her plate she walked back into the dinning area. Her father had just sat down at the head of the table, most gathered around him, but to his left a seat was empty for her as always.

Before taking her seat she bent to her father and kissed his cheek while he flipped opened the morning paper. She sat down and Jason looked up at her, a spoon full of flakes midway to his mouth, but look away just a quickly his attention now on Sonia. She shrugged it off thinking he might still be hurt or awkward from last night. They would need to talk about what happened eventually. Claira dug into her food when she her a scream, as if someone next to her screamed in her ear. Growling fiercely she almost knocked the table over getting up and looking around to see where it had come from. Her eyes turned a slight gold, as her family stared watching her as if she were crazy. Everyone at the table had stopped what they were doing and watched her confused by her sudden out burst, even Luca watched concerned.

"Did you hear that?" She asked still scanning around the room.

"Hear what? You growl for no reason?" Sonia snickered. Claira turned her head I let her canines extend baring her teeth at Sonia in a challenge. Sonia hissed back in return but averted her gaze, she knew better. Claira was the stronger one of them both and every time Sonia had challenged Claira in the past, she would loose.

"No," Claira growled "Someone screamed, I heard it."

"We didn't hear anything." The twins said together, concern in their voice as they watched her.

The voice was low as if it someone whispered in her ear. 'Its me little wolf.. I didn't mean to alarm you. I'm sorry.' his voice trailed off.

'Diego.' She thought, and tried to focus but she couldn't not with her family around watching her. A small piece of panic started to settle in her chest, Why had he screamed like that?

Luca looked over Claira worry on his face, "Daughter, are you ok?"  She looked at him, and shook her head clearing her thoughts.

"Yes, I'm fine sorry....I ugh, 'm done so. I'm going to take a crack at Diego." With out a second glace at her plate she picked it up and took it to the trash clearing her plate before placing it in the sink.

There was a small growl from behind her. "You mean the Leach." Turning her head she saw Jason looking at her, his eyes turning cold, a bull lifeless gold she knew all to well. If he got any angrier, he would start to shift and the only person who could stop him was Luca. Claira stood there watching him not sure how to continue with out setting him off. 

"Yes good thing." Luca's voice cut the silence, distracting them both. "Come back to me child if and when he gives you anymore information. Jordan should be finished with him, you should go after you have changed." Her father stood up motioning her to come forward, and she did stopping till she stood in front of Luca. He lifted his hand to caressed her cheek. Claira had to keep her emotions and reactions in check around him, he always managed to read her like a open book.

"Jordan?" She questioned confused why he would be with Diego. No one was suppose to see him other then her, she had told everyone in the pack to leave him alone and let her deal with him.

"Yes Jordan walked in there and it seems our guest was able to recover without blood. Not to mention someone had him moved last night." Luca smirked at Claira before speaking again. "Do you know anything about that?" Claira tried not to keep her breathing even before she spoke.

"I thought the chains in the cell he was in were faulty so I had him moved. Just in case." Claira tried to play it off, but her eyes shifted left, then she looked at Jason who had been eyeing her the whole time. He missed nothing, she knew and would see threw her lie. But he spoke up.

"I moved him last night, after she asked me." Jason said with a straight face while he continued eating his cereal. 

"Ah, I see. Well good, I'm glade you two worked together to do so. Well Jordan is in there now. Lets just say, hes trying to coax this Diego to speak more freely." Luca shook his head. "I rather you do it daughter, that boys been threw enough I'm sure, being the son of Donas."

Claira's eyes widen at her fathers words, Jordan was torturing Diego. Nausea set in her stomach, she couldn't understand why, but then the memory of their kiss burned her cheeks making her ears red as well. 

The Bond there was a small whisper in the back of her mind. Of course if she hadn't given Diego her blood this wouldn't have happened, she wouldn't be having these feelings for him. Lies, it was her own voice. When she first seen Diego at the bus stop, she was instantly drawn to him. There was something more then just the bond between them.

"Right ima go now." Giving her father a quick kiss she bounded out of the dinning room up the stairs to her bedroom. Quickly closing the door behind herself. She went to her restroom and showered.

Striping off her close she looked in the mirror. Stuck forever at this age of 20. Forever young, she touched her face then her lips, Diego's kiss still lingered. She shook her head strays of black hair covered her face. 

"Here again." Diego's voice was a whisper, as if he was in pain or tired.

"I'm coming hold on." She started the water, and hopped in not caring it was cold against her skin. She needed to see Diego and stop Jordan from whatever he was doing, but she also desperately needed a shower.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry." It was a whisper so low she thought for a second it was her imagination but she heard it, his voice. Suddenly she felt pain on her face, as if someone hit her, but no one was in the room with, not her, Diego.

The realization of it made her pulse race she was feeling what he felt and he was in pain. Quickly jumping out of the shower she didn't even care to dry off. She quickly threw on jeans a tank with boots, not caring if she matched or not, and raced out of her room. Running her fingers threw her wet hair, she took the flight of steps two at a time, down to the basement of the house. There was a small corridor that led to the cells, Diego's first cell was the first door on the right but she moved him last night.

She stopped at the second one knowing it was where she had last left Diego, but sounds where coming from it...like a rabbet dog, and a laughing henna.

Grabbing the metal latch she slid it open and pulled the door. Inside Jordan held a whip in one had and bloody blade in the other. His eyes where a bright gold, his features almost unnoticeable mid shift. Diego slacked in his chain as he hung from the ceiling by his arms. Jordan must have put him in this position before starting. Diego's body riddled with new cuts, and lacerations. He didn't look conscious to her, the only sign of life was the small yet labored rise and fall of his chest. It pained Claira to see him like this, every fiber in her body wanted to run to him feed him her blood making it better, to even kiss him again. At her thoughts his head twitched as a small very faint smile spread at the corner of his lips.

"Claira," Jordan nodded respect to her in greeting with out actually looking at her. But his body shook from holding back the change. 

Claira turned her attention to Jordan. He was your average contry man straight from the farms. He wore cowboy boots, wrangler jeans and a fannel. It would be 90 degrees out and he would still be wearing a flannel, it was as if that was the only type of shirts he owned. He normally was a level headed man but once he was around vampires  he seemed to change into a different person. Maybe it was because of his past. Luca had found him half dead himself clunching his wifes dead body. They both had been attacked by a vampire on their way home, and Jordan being the man he was tried to save his wife but couldn't. It had been 20 years since he made the change, but he still blamed himself. When Claira had come to the house Jordan treated her like a little lady and kept her safe, and when she became a women he would flirt with her. But she was sure it was all in good natured fun and nothing serious.

Claira shook her head to clear her thought. Masking her voice from the concern she felt for Diego she inhaled and smirked "Having fun are we?" 

Jordan turned his face to look at her. The battle in his eyes subsided as he placed the whip and blade on a near by table. "Always sugar." His country accident made her smile normally, but right now her thoughts were on helping Diego.

"Father wants you." She jerked her head out the door.

He watched her then turned his head to Diego giving him a once over. "You good here?"

"You worked him over pretty good, I got this big boy." She tried to flirt with him like she always did but she was sure this time her voice seemed forced.

She walked up to one of the 3 tables that had blades on them. Taking a shirt knife, she turned back to smiled at Jordan. His eyes seemed to calm and he had better control of himself.

He nodded and left the room closing the door behind himself. When she was satisfied he was gone long enough she walked to the door and locked it, slipping the blade into her pocket before flipping a switch, causing the chains that held Diego to slack, as he fell to the floor in a heap.

He moaned but didn't move, his body was to damaged to do anything. She practically ran to him turned him on his back, lifting his head to her lap.

He moaned again from the pain "Shh...I'm so sorry I didn't think...I didn't know." She tried to stretched for a towel hanging off the near table. When in hand she started to clean the blood off his face and chest.

His words were faint. "Aye,...you think...this is bad." A small smiled played on his lips as he laid still while Claira patted the blood from his neck.

"You need blood." She spoke while cleaning his face of the dry blood.

His voice was in her head 'I'm fine little wolf.'

"Don't lie."

'I'm not.'

She stopped and gave him an exaggerated glance. "Sure buddy."

'OK maybe not 100% fine but, I can read your thoughts, drinking from you only strengthens the bond.'

She paused her actions for a moment thing about last night. The kiss, his control of her body, his touch. Her cheeks reddened and his voice broke her thought. 'I'm not the only one who enjoyed last night.'

Her blood pulsed embarrassed of what he said 'You didn't ask permission.' she scolded him. He watched her face smiling. 

'But you didn't say no. You actually enjoyed it.' Diego tried to laugh but groaned in pain.

"Now is not the time for that." she spoke out loud furious with him. Without hesitation she took the blade out of her pocket and cut her wrist. Holding it at his mouth, Diego's eyes turned a deep purple as his fangs bared and latched onto her wrist.

The heat was intense at first and so was the pain. But it subsided, and then there was the tingling sensation through out her body as images flooded her mind. Diego's lips moving from her wrist up her arm, her neck, kissing her chin then capturing her lips again hungrier. His hand slid up her arm to tangle in her hair. He kissed her so feverish, claiming her mouth for his. But how, wasn't he seriously hurt, he couldn't even move. It was all gone in a flash.

Her breathing was labored as she sat still on the floor, Diego had pulled himself up while he rested on his elbows still on his back. He wasn't drinking from her anymore. The wound on her wrist started to heal, and all that was left was a faint pink line and dried blood. Diego's eyes were still a bright purple. He pulled back to look at her, a smirk covered his lips, and his breathing was labored as well.

"Looks like I'm not the only one to enjoy myself." He whispered, licking his lips. She felt the blood rush to her face. He began to move rolling over to his stomach, and flinching from the pain.

"No, no please don't move you haven't healed." She push on his shoulders but she didn't want to hurt him more. 

Ignoring her he pushed up on to his hands and knees in front of her. "I'm fine." He grabbed her hand and pulled Claira into his blood caked chest. His face was in her hair, inhaling deeply. One hand caressed her back the other was in her hair. Claira didn't know what to do, but being like this in his arms felt right. He tugged her hair lightly lifting her face to look at his, and he kissed her.

It was soft like the first kiss, his lips course on hers, yet she didn't care. Claira moved to kneel about the same level as him, kissing him back. It didn't matter he was the enemy, it didn't matter that she was supposed to kill him and he was supposed to kill her. She was living in the moment, and liking it, liking him kiss her the way he did. Diego stopped the kiss pulling away, breathing heavily.

Claira was breathing heavily as well her eyes fluttered open catching the fait shift in color of Diego's eyes purple to almost brown, but still the purple was ever present. They were both quiet for a few minutes just staring at each other breathing. Diego's mind was filled with different thoughts of Claira. He want her, not just the few kisses he shared with her but more, a lot more. But Diego was afraid, afraid to move further, push her more then she was ready for.

Just as Claira was about to talk there was a knock at the door. Panic set in, what was she doing. Quickly stumbling to her feet, she ran towards the door, frowning as Diego knew their situation was bad. If they were caught together all hell would let loose. His hands were still bound by the chains, lifting them to remind her, she got the hint but frowned at him. Claira didn't want to hurt him anymore.

'Do it little wolf.' His voice whispered but his lips didn't move.

She flipped the switch and he was yanked from the floor to hang by his arms from the ceiling once again. He moaned in pain and she frowned, lifting her hands to her mouth and mouthed. 'I'm so so sorry."

He looked to her and gave her his winning smirk. 'I'm fine baby, make it look real.' 

Baby? She thought. Rolling her eyes, she was worried over nothing, he was back to his annoying self. Realizing Claira still had the blade in hand. She inhaled deeply calming her self and tried to play the part of being annoyed. 

'You look hot as hell right now.' Diego's voice was teasing, and she couldn't help but smile. She twirled the blade in her hand before sliding the lock and opening the door.

John stood outside with his arms over his chest. His eyes widen taking in her appearance. "Are you hurt?" His voice full of worry. As he pushed past her into the cell.

"No?" She was confused then looked down at herself. Dried blood, caked her cloths, Diego's dried blood from when he held her. "No this is his." She pointed the blade at Diego where he played the part as an unconscious.

"Good, did he give you anymore info?" John walked in a circle around Diego's limp body, checking him over. John sniffed him and wrinkled his nose. 

'My father has a camp of vamps 30 miles west from here. He takes all the newly changed there' Diego's voice filled her mind, yet while she looked at him he was still limp.

"Donas has a holding facility 30 miles west of here." Claira repeating exactly what Diego said.

"Anything else?" John asked looking at Claira before stopping behind Diego. He grabbed a fist full of his hair and yanked it back exposing his neck. Claira had a sudden reaction wanting to pull John away from Diego.

'No don't little wolf.' His voice firm holding Claira in her place. She couldn't do such a thing to her brother or he'd know...they would all know, and no one could know about them. 'Tell him while torturing me I passed out and that's why I am this way.'

"No," her words where firm "the Leach pasted out, too much blood letting, I guess I over did it." She waved her hand as if nothing new, hopping it was sufficient for John. John watched her before looking back at Diego.

John let go of Diego's head, and walked over to her, grabbing the knife from her hand placing it on the table. "Let's leave then, we have tell father what we know. You been down here 2 hours he was beginning to worry about you."

"2 hours?" It felt like minutes. She looked to Diego who was still playing his part.

'I'll be fine. All thanks to you.' His voice was soft in her mind. 'And your kisses.' He sent an image of them kissing earlier. And heat rushed to her face. She quickly covered her eyes rubbing them, trying to hide her face from John as best as she could.

"Hey." Johns voice broke her thoughts. He looked at her confused. "You ok? your ears are red." He went to touched her ears but she brushed him off walking out the door that led from the cell. She had to keep her guard up.

"I'm fine let's go, I'm tired and bored." She tried to reassure him, hoping it worked.

John laughed walking out the cell closing it behind him. "That's the girl I know." 

'My girl.' Diego's voice was firm in her mind. Making Claira smile to herself. Diego sent her an image of him holding her in his arms. She looked back through the open door just as John walked threw and for a brief moment she caught Diego's eye.

'I'll be back later.' She she smirked at him.

'I'll be waiting.' He answered his voice trailed off as John closed the door.