The Hunters moon

Today I Saw The Whole World

Astar

As my fingers close completely around the prickling sensation flutters up my arm over my chest. She’s here and close. I don't know how I know but a part of me senses the nearness. Opening the door the smell of old books, coffee, and my prey mix.

My eyes scan over those at the counters. She’s not there. Twisting and turning through useless isles of information becomes dizzying. That scent I’m following crowds the small place. It’s so strong it nearly distracts me from slamming into her. I stop inches away from colliding with her back. Her intoxicating scent rips the beast below from the surface. Her lovely form is finally in view. My hands reach out to her, readying to take her, consume her, claim her. It’s all so perfect, easy. I just need to reach out and grasp her. Even the energy within me screams with all its might.

Ripping away to the next aisle, I collapse. My back hits the stacks of books. Through small slants in the decor, I watch her. The beast screaming within, my entire body vibrates. It takes everything in me to not take her right here. Who was this creature? Everything about her looks like a normal human. But those eyes and that smell tell me a different story. Even the way the light catches against her skin glimmers a dangerous color.

As if sensing me she looks around. The steps coming closer to where I am. I want to stay still, I want to flee. It’s entirely insane. Before her feet make it to me my body is once more a good distance away from her.

My fingers find their way to my hair causing me to rip. This is maddening. Who was this creature? Why am I acting this way? Everything within myself fights a losing battle to leave. But the creature within wins. Causing me to stay within the shadows and watch her. If I refuse to go near her the least I can do is watch from afar. Or so I tell myself.

My eyes trail everything she does. From the moment she walks up to the cashier to check out to the way her hair falls when she orders a drink at the cafe. Keeping myself within the shadows of this place my eyes watch my prey. While my mind tries to reason within.

Clearly this thing before me has some sort of power to have brought me practically to my knees from afar. Maybe she is just the thing my body most craves to sink its teeth into. All is possible, considering the way my mouth waters for her. Yet my stomach does not roar to feast. How peculiar. This definitely has to be from the large feast before.

My eyes must be burning a hole into the back of her head for the being before me turns around. Those consuming eyes searching for mine. How unlike a human to feel my presence. It’s all interesting.

The cafe maid calls her name. “Angel.”

Ah, how convenient. Everything about the angelic girl matches her name perfectly. The glow around her is heavenly, how unlucky for her to run into a demon like me.

Once she slides back into her seat my insides flutter. A man comes up to her then, smiling like the degenerate he is. One single word comes to mind.

Mine.

The word rattles me to my core, forcefully ripping my mind into every direction. My fist clench and unclench, the pressure in my jaw enough to shatter bones. When he leans in a little too close my powers enlight, the light flickers as my gaze zones in on him. His smile goes from charming to that of utter horror. Flashing every terror he’s ever had before his eyes the man stumbles back into another table disrupting their conversation. Coffee spills everywhere and there is a commotion. He doesn’t so much as apologize before darting out of the cafe with his tail between his legs.

My Angel sits there in utter shock before standing to retrieve some napkins, kindly assisting the table in cleaning up the wreckage. My eyes trail her, everything about the way she moves is other worldly. Even people around her seem to move away. Like she herself is something made of the dark just as I am. This Angel looks utterly normal. Even the clothes she wears are something of a younger taste. A dart attire that is too new, but all the same something that draws me in.

All at once my mind is made up. Forcing myself to move, I head over to Chapiro. The owner stands behind the counter assisting one of his cashiers. His smile is of the perfect service until his eyes meet mine. The smile on his face falters. But I have no time for whatever emotions are filling him up.

“Lord-” I hold my hand up to silence him. Immediately, his mouth closes.

My eyes trail over to Angel who has just sat back down, her white hair falling graciously over her shoulder. “The one with white hair in all black, what did she buy?”

His dark eyes look to where my gaze is. Even with his glasses on he squints in order to see. “The one in the beret?”

It is by no means a beret, however arguing with the elderly is not on my agenda at the moment. “Yes.” I reply instantly

His mouth opens to inform me of information that even a monkey could figure out. “She bought books.” My eyes glow a dangerous color when he corrects himself. “One about the town and then t-t-two new horror releases.”

My tongue runs over my teeth still tasting that horrific blood from before. “Did she mention anything about herself?”

He looks to the other cashier’s who are busy themselves doing anything else. I simply snap my fingers for his attention to be brought back to me. “N-N-no, only that she is her-e-e visiting.”

“How long?” I snap

“A couple of w-w-weeks.”

I nod. Thinking. Calculating. Leaning forward I drop my voice down for no one else to hear. Thankfully the man follows suit in understanding by leaning in. “If she comes in here again you notify me immediately. Whatever she purchases, who she is with, what she says, wears, everything.” Reaching behind the counter I grab a pen. Chapiro fumbles for a piece of paper then slides it over to me. Quickly, I jot down my direct number.

“Call me the moment you have an inkling of anything.” The words coming out of me hardly filter through my brain. They are coming from deep within, not caring what truly comes out.

The old man’s face reden’s, his red and white hair looking to stand on edge. As he picks the paper up his voice stutters out. “My Lord, may I speak.”

My eyes roll and my teeth grit. Were my words not perfectly clear? Everything about the conversation should be understandable for a man who owns a book shop for over fifty years. Through gritting teeth I seeth, “Proceed.”

With a wrinkly finger he motions over to what is mine. “She left.”

“She left?" I repeat. It takes too long for my brain to catch up to what he is saying. Whirling around my eyes scanning for her, the table where my Angel had sat is now vacant. Already someone new descends upon the vacant table.

Under my breath I curse in every language. Without so much as a look back at anyone or anything I head back out onto the street. The lights shine brightly casting a glow upon my streets. The same streets where my Angel now is. If only Chapiro had actually dug more information out of her. Then we’d know where she is staying. My mind plagues me with the worst thoughts. Thoughts about my Angel being not on my territory but in Draven’s.

Would my own brother have the same reaction? To calm my nerves I remember that we are both different. Lycan blood has a very different sense of taste. The only thing I’d really have to worry about is how to get to her without his mutts noticing.

Like an animal I go to the back door she left from. Her scent is still strong on it. Following that across the street it muddles again with those of unholy blood. Luckily for me the streets have become very vacant. Allowing me to pick back up on her trail quickly. It’s not until I stop before the path where the woods open up and the sting lights lead that I see her. Far down the path walking in the direction of Camp Corvus. My camp on my territory. The beast within grins showing my fangs. The heat within my eyes blazes as I know how this will go.

Stepping into the darkness of the woods, I allow myself to transform. It's all too easy, like slipping into one skin to the other. My pale skin turns into an inky black as my hair takes on a softer texture. Within seconds I’m soaring directly above her.

My Angel’s shoulder relaxes. A small smile stays on her face as she hums, not bothering to look behind her. Strange also. Unless she does not care for the eyes that lurk within the night.

Her steps don’t falter until she comes upon others. Even from up here it’s not hard to see what is going on. Landing on a nearby tree branch I watch to see what she’ll do.

“Let go!” The girl calls out, ripping her arm away from the man. Her ponytail has fallen, bright eyes blazing. What looks to be her sister stands behind her. Tears rolling down her young face. They couldn't be much older than fourteen.

The man’s smile is disgustingly gruesome. Nothing about him shows a kind feature in his body.

“Please don’t yell. I was only asking if you two would care to join me back at my spot.”

The taller sister wipes her tears. “We said no.” She mumbles.

“Piss off!” The shorter of the two hisses.

“Is there a problem here?” Angel calls out to them. The man stops for a moment. Dropping his smile for a split second. The energy emanating from him has me instantly back into my bodily form watching from the darkness of the woods. His dark eyes scan over to Angel. “No problem here.”

The two girls look at her as she puts herself directly between the man and the children. “Perfect. Then you can see yourself back to wherever you crawled out from.” Her smile is polite with that bite of something behind it. Leaving no room for an argument.

“Listen the girls and I-”

Brushing him off Angel turns her attention back to the girls. “Do you know him?” She asks.

They shake their heads no.

Turning back to the man, Angel motions for him to leave. “You are dismissed.”

“I-”

“Let me make myself perfectly clear here, unless you’d like for me to call the police. I suggest you take off and leave these girls alone.” Her head is held high. If he had an argument there can be room for none. Too many of them are here now.

His eyes blaze down at her and I have half a nerve to snap his neck. “Fine.” He spits. Walking down the path to wherever his campsite is.