Blood of The Beast

i

Scylla:

    There's a darkness in the way beasts look at you. Darkness so profound that it captures you in the beautiful abyss of the beast's arms. Beast, is a term used for monsters. You can't call this specific kind of beast a monster though. The monstrosity of him is too high to be something as meaningless as just some monster.

    The intelligence in this beast's eyes surpasses the untamed term that is a monster. That darkness in its eyes isn't obtained from simply being born. No, there is experience, chaos, murder, loss. The ugly that drives a capable person into this kind of darkness is transformed into nothing less than a beast. That's the beauty of this beast's darkness. He was pulled into the world where monsters reign and came out as the monstrous beast he is.

    I had taken a seat in this class fifteen minutes ago. His eyes, that beast like gaze took me in searching my eyes sending chills through me as I tried not to squirm in my seat. His voice is a booming demand of power that captivated me in ways, I knew I'd surrender too. All of these juveniles reacted to him in one way or another. It could be admiration, or fear, maybe both.

    The university instructed me to sit in on the new professor's class to evaluate him and bring back a report. I had known who he was the moment Dean Marshall had said his name. Alastair Malacoda. I'm staring into the penetrating gaze of one of the oldest most lethal vampires in the history of killer vampires in the world.

    This man had been born twenty-six centuries ago. His sire is the Vampire King's youngest brother. The king's most valued assassin back when the supernatural ruled the world in blood. He had killed in quantities of millions of his own kind, my kind, and all other kinds single-handedly. Fought in wars alongside mortals for the simple enjoyment of it.

    I have no shame in saying I wrote an essay on the conquests of Alastair Malacoda for history back when I was sixteen. It was published in Vanity Fangs. It was a six-page story of appraisal. My father is going to have a field day when he finds out what my infatuation with these creatures had become. Fate. A fate that had come for me a little to early. A fate letting me know how cruel my reality truly is. Mates are meant to complement one another. What does it say of me when there is a beast complementing who I am as a person standing in front of me?

    Come on Scylla pull your s**t together. You can't let him see the fangirl take over like this. You can't show him you're willingly going to drop to your knees for him. Mate or not, he has to earn you. This beast can't just take, he has to give in order to receive. That's it keep the pep talk up and you'll succeed.

    He dismissed his class at the right time and stood at the door blocking my exit. I gathered my files after finishing my evaluation sheet and marked it as approved putting them all in order. His at the top of course. I stood up and looked up at the grandeur of this man with a straight face.

    "Professor Malacoda," I addressed him.

    "Chancellor Narolin," he smirked. His old greek accent sent chills down my spine. Don't react Scylla.

    "I rather enjoyed your class. Welcome to the University," I chastised trying to keep my composure.

    "Is that all you enjoyed Panemorfi (Beautiful)?" he asked looking me over once again. Flattery is not going to work here buddy. I know I'm beautiful.

    "Was there something else?" I asked playing coy.

    "You're going to make this hard for me aren't you Glykia Mou?" My sweet? Can you get any cockier than that? Why is this working? I've killed guys for crap like this.

    "I'd say something is already hard and in my way. Would you excuse me? I have other classes I must evaluate,"

    He looked down at his pants and tensed up. He moved out of the way and walked back towards his desk. I turned to look at him. He let out a low growl making me shiver. I smirked in his direction letting out a growl of my own. His eyes shot my way shocked. He knew it was a response to him. All of him is affecting all of me right now and while it's not a sick feeling. School isn't the time and place for me to experience this right now.

    "I'll be sure to remember that," he said taking a seat.

    "I'm sure you will, Fangs," I scoffed and made my way to the closest bathroom I could find.

    I have never been sexually frustrated before. I had never responded to anyone like this and here I am in need of more than I can offer myself. The monster in me is calling out to her beast. Wanting him to come relieve me. I locked myself in a bathroom cubical and grabbed some toilet paper to cleaned myself up before heading to my next class. How embarrassing for others to know this is happening to me right now. 

    "Shake this. Shake this right now," I growled in front of the mirror. I finally got a hold of myself and checked my watch. I have twelve minutes to get to the other side of the campus to the next class. The scent of my arousal is momentarily gone or at least contained.

    "Chancellor Narolin," I turned to face Dean as I walked out of the building to get to where I need to be.

    "What is it?" I asked. My voice is back to normal but still, there is a trace of panic in it. It made me shake my head a bit to try and ring it out.

    "Your father requests your audience. I'll make the rest of the evaluations. How did you like Mr. Malacoda's first lecture?" he smiled at me.

    "Dean, have you ever met him in person?" he shook his head.

    "Hell no. That guy is known to be a monster," he said. This need to smack him came over me. "I was told you studied him back when you were a student here. It's why the board decided to give you these,"

    "Mesmerizing," I whispered. Even if Malacoda wasn't my mate. His lecture would have blown me away.

He nodded. "Be careful, Scylla. Vampires are dangerous,"

    "I'm not exactly a saint," we both laughed.

    "That's for damn sure. I hope whatever it is the alpha wants you for isn't as bad as the last time,"

    "Make sure you have these on my desk when I get back. Do not mix them. I need them in this order. Write it down if you must," he bowed his head.

    "Yes, ma'am,"

    I felt his cold gaze on my body as I walked back towards the front of the school. I don't want to look around for him, I'd lose control and right now I need to get to my dad. He never calls me in when I'm working. He'd wait until he knew I was no longer busy. I grabbed my helmet and pushed the key into the ignition of my Ducati Supersport.

    He stood at the top of the steps, under the shade the building provided, looking down at me with a smirk on his lips. I looked over the frame of his shadow before I put the helmet on and the bike into gear. Why is this happening now? I needed more time. Things are just starting to fall into place.

    I made my way back to the pack mansion to see my dad and Killian move around his car looking for something among the files in his trunk. Files that had been created since my dad had taken over the land here. Old things. He had built his entire pack from scratch on the concept of rogues. The rogues who were tired of living as they did had joined almost immediately. Vampires were granted access here. Some were mated to our wolves and had become a major part of this pack. A pack, maybe that's not the right word but it hides what we really are here. These rogues follow my dad's reign and he guides them out of their isolation. He gives us all a purpose. He gave us all a home starting with the two of us.    

    "What's going on?" I asked placing my helmet on the handle of my bike.

    "We have a new assignment for you, pretty girl. You aren't going to like it," my dad informed me while he looked over some of the boxes.

    "I think she might like it too much," Killian smirked. 

    "Okay? What is it?" I asked intrigued.

    "I'm sure you know about Alastair Malacoda coming here. He's part of our ranks now," he informed me. 

    "Yeah, I know," I sighed. Killian stopped with a package in his arms to look over at me.

    "What does that mean?" my dad asked. The wind made my helmet swing and fall off the handle. I reached over and caught it before it hit the ground and brought it up to my chest tapping my fingers over it.

    "He's mine," I mused, I couldn't hold back the smile anymore.

    "Oh my god," he flinched turning his entire body to look at me. "Are you sure?"

    "Completely," he pulled me into him without warning. His chest smacking against the helmet before he took it and tossed it in the trunk.

    "Alastair Malacoda. You've been obsessed with this creature since you were thirteen,"

    "You guys are not allowed to say anything about that. He has a massive ego and I'd like to not feed it," he laughed.

    "Agreed," they said together.

    "Alright, what about Alastair Malacoda?"

    "The Order is not happy that he chose us to reside in. I'm making you his A-list guard. He warned me beforehand. I knew this was coming. Not him being your mate, but definitely the war we might have on our hands. We're preparing," he said motioning the boxes. They were burning anything that might give out any countermeasures into the territoried here and outside of Rogue Creek.

    "So, what you're saying is that I have to be with him all the time?" he nodded looking behind me.

    I can feel his presence coming in our direction and fast. I shivered before he came to a complete halt right behind. The cold that radiates off of him came over me raising goosebumps all over my skin. Including my face. I'm going to have to get used to this feeling. Not that it's a bad one. Variations of fear is something I am very accustomed to.

    "Epodynos (Pain)," he whispered. There was a sad tone in the ring of his voice. He's heard of me or at least some of the rumors surrounding the establishment of my "pack".

    "What did you expect? Den boreí na eínai énas dolofónos kai anaménoun tin athoótita sto állo misó sas," (You can't be a killer and expect innocence in your other half). I shrugged without turning to face him.

    "Ostóso, edó eínai anéngichto apó tin epithymía," (Yet here you are untouched by desire). "Anamoní gia na didáxei," (Waiting to be taught).

    "I have yet to see what you can teach me that I haven't already taught myself," he growled at me a sense of alarm came over me for an instant. A beast I reminded myself before I tried not laugh. I laugh when I'm nervous.

    "Do not take that tone with me," he warned.

    "You haven't taken your claim yet and already demanding," I laughed failing to hold it back, turning around to step into the small space he had left between us. "I don't know what you're used to in a woman fangs, but this isn't it. You want something here you earn it. You aren't going to be served here, Lord Malacoda. You're on my land now and here I'm the alpha. You'll have no mercy from me,"

    "Is that right?" he asked his growl low and more of a purr than a mass of intimidation. He likes that I'm talking back. Cheeky.

    "Yeah, that's right," I let out a warning growl letting go of restraint I pride myself on. He took a step back feeling the fight in the monster inside of me.

    My father has a smile on his face. His chest slightly puffed out in pride. Killian is trying to hold back a laugh. I bit my lip trying to hide the fact that I am scared shitless. His growl had affected me like nothing had ever before. I felt the cold of his anger down into my very soul and it scares the hell out of me. I know they feel it too.

    My dad's heartbeat is rising in alarm. Years of overprotecting me kicking into gear. He had to fight it back as much as I have to fight back the urge to become violent. I have never liked a challenge. Not that many had ever challenged me and lived to tell the tale.

    "Alpha, you're here. Is something wro...?" Allison my wayward sister ran towards me as I entered the packhouse and froze when she saw who is stood behind me.

    "Allison this is Lord Alastair Malacoda. I want you to set him up in my old room,"

    "Yes ma'am," she lowered her eyes cringing away from him. "Will you be requiring a room as well?"

    "No. I'm going home in a bit," he growled making her jump. I turned to face him.

    "You are not to mistreat her in any way. No biting, no taunting. As a matter of fact, don't talk to her. She's fragile," he glared at me. "Go on, Allison,"

    "Yes," she squeaked and ran off.

    "You are not leaving me here," he stated with conviction. No one ever says no to him. That's obvious, he's always been favored. By fate and the vampire princes that took him from his mortal world and brought him into this one.

    "You have to stay here. I have a little lady I have to pick up in an hour and she will most definitely react to you far worse than Allison," his eyes glazed over going from their combination of colors to just black.

    "That's not possible. I can taste your innocence," he reassured himself stepping closer.

    That in itself is enough to make me want to backhand his ass into the next century. I had killed a few who assumed anything regarding my sexuality or intellect. The way he looks at me makes me angry. I shouldn't have mattered to him if I had been touched before or if I had a daughter. His years of f*****g alone surpassed any indiscretion I could have committed. Even if I did have a daughter, he has no right to react to that.

    "Scylla, Constance is waiting for you. Take her home. I'll take care of the rest here," my dad encouraged before placing his hand on my shoulder. He knows exactly what I'm thinking. What I've done to those who dare speak to me in this manner.

    "He doesn't leave the house, dad," I bellowed looking away from my so-called mate.

    "You're giving me orders, Alpha?" his eyebrows raising, humor intent in his eyes.

    "Get used to it, old man. This was your idea," he let out a hearty laugh as I made my way back to the front yard gathering my emotions. I didn't lose it. That's what's important.

    He hadn't followed me, but once I started up the car that was brought out for me he stood in front of it. He doesn't look happy in the slightest. He repeated his previous statement. He wasn't staying here. My phone vibrated him my pocket and I looked down to see a text from my dad.

    Bring her. I want Pie.

    "Are you going to move?" I asked and he shook his head. "And if I promise to come back in an hour?"

    "Will you or am I going to have to come find you?" he asked.

    "I'll be back in an hour, Fangs. I promise," 

    I barely saw him twitch and he was gone. I let out a sigh. My heart is racing a million miles per hour. I got hold of the fear by the time I got to the elderly home Constance likes to stay in during her chemotherapy. She said they treated her best there. I walked in waving at the woman behind the front desk. She bowed her head in respect as I walked into the theater room. The smell of disinfectant and coffee flooded my senses. Then her smell or rather the scent of her perfume. Constance doesn't smell like my little old lady since the moment she developed this sickness.

    When I was twelve, I was diagnosed with Low Latent Inhibition. My mind doesn't process things like everyone else, emotionally. Dr. Peters, the man that had found out why I was so different from everyone else helped me find a way to use this to heighten how I learn not only intellectually, but physically. He helped me take control of my aggression and now I'm this. Whatever this is. They say LLIs don't have emotions that their decisions are based on logic. It's difficult for me to grasp why they think LLI is what I have because everything I do it based on a feeling or several different ones that push anything logical out of my mind. 

    When I first shifted I had lost control of everything. My mind, my emotions, the wolf took complete control. I ran away to keep myself from hurting more than those I had already hurt. I ended up in someone's yard by the time I was able to calm down and shift back. Her name is Constance Porter. My savior. I had momentarily lost track of my mind and she had cared for me. At the time she had been sixty-two.

    Four months after she found me, my memories rushed back. I brought her home with me. Something in her changed not long after. It was small in the beginning and within months it spread like an infection that relentlessly took control of her worse than when my wolf had taken control of me. My savior had started the countdown to the end of her days and she didn't want me to do a single thing about it. I finally convinced her to take treatment and she agreed just to humor me. Any day has turned into any minute.

    "She's energetic today," my pack doctor informed me. "Flirting away with the male Doctors,"

    "Thank you, Mina. Are her things ready?" I asked.

    "Yes, alpha," she answered me handing me Constance's pink gym bag. I took it from her and walked into the room where she's waiting for me. Everyone turned to look at me.

    "Look, Connie, your pretty granddaughter is here," one of the ladies shouted from the other side of the room. Constance looked up at me her face lighting up like a little girl on Christmas morning.

    I have been staying with her since she started treatment. She wanted to be somewhere quiet and safe and there is nothing she'd ask for that I wouldn't give to her in a heartbeat. My little lady. A gift I never believed I deserved.

    I greeted everyone and picked her up into my arms. She stayed still as I carried her to my car. I can feel this thing inside of her and it killed me to know it wasn't getting any better. It got worse. I set her down in the passenger seat and buckled her in.

    "You are happy," she stated when I came around and started the car. "What's happened, pretty girl?"

    "I met him, Nana," I whispered quietly trying to mask the excitement in me.

    Her eyes met mine lighting up, even more, knowing what that meant. I had never kept a single thing from her. When I started to remember I told her what I was and she was okay with it. I told her about everything I had done and she had accepted me with arms wide open. She had accepted me without judgment. The only person who has ever accepted me the way I am. The pack loves her as if she were one of us. They all know what she means to me and why our peace has lasted this long.

    "Your mate?" she asked and I nodded. "Tell me more,"

    "He scares the hell out of me, Nana. He's a beast. One of the oldest," she nodded looking down at her hands thinking it over. "I have a favor to ask. It's his first night here and he's a force. I don't want anything to lead back to your home. Can I bring you back to the packhouse just for a couple of nights until he settles in?"

    "Oh yes. I've been wanting to ask you. I miss Dylan and Killian. They treat me like I'm normal. None of that over the top crap you put me through," I scoffed.

    "Nana, I don't want you to exert yourself. Mina said you need to take it easy,"

    "Hmph," she pouted crossing her arms. She's a total brat and I love it. "I'm going to die anyway. I'd like to go doing what I love and that is your father. I mean cooking for your father,"

    "Nana really?" I laughed.

    "Can you blame me? He's beautiful," she blushed. Her wrinkled face makes me believe in life.

    "I'm stopping at the house for some of your things. Stay put," she nodded taking her phone out. The panda pop theme song came on. She beamed as she played.

    It's surreal that this little old lady made my days come alive. This isn't new to her. On the nights I was out, my dad would come to stay with her. Other times when I was out on patrol, she'd request to stay at the packhouse. I'd love those days. She is highly protected in the heart of my pack and Mina is never too far behind.

    I gathered her things for a few days. Should she need anything else I'd come to get it for her. She's exactly where I had left her. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out as I settled her things in the back of my dad's car.

    Your hour is up. an unknown number sent.

    Hold on to your blood packs, Fangs. I'm on my way back. I text back.

    Hurry. he sent back almost immediately.

    "Alright, Nana are you ready?" I asked getting back in the car.

    "Shush dear. I'm winning," she said waving her wrinkled little hands my way. I shook my head before putting the car into gear and taking us home.