Bleeding Lotus

Chapter 6

Taking an unnoticed sniff of the air, I pick up scents that do not belong to mortals. One scent in particular feels strangely familiar, carrying traces of a race I am certain I must have encountered long ago, though the memory remains distant. One of the men radiates immense power, so overwhelming it presses against my body like a mountain threatening to crush me beneath its weight. The sheer force of his presence alone would likely send most creatures to their knees in submission. Since I have always wandered this world alone, I do not fully understand the ranking systems among supernaturals, but it doesn't take a genius to recognize that this man is someone of incredibly high status, perhaps even the highest among his kind. Which means he is unimaginably lethal.

Unsure if how to behave in the presence of such a powerful being, I lower myself back to the ground then I get down on my knees and bow deeply until my face hovers just an inch above the ground, both hands are on the forest floor. Every movement is careful and deliberate, an attempt to show respect while silently admitting my fear of him. Yet even as I bow, I keep the fox fire in my palm from extinguishing as it touches the ground, the blue flames flickering softly and casting eerie light against my trembling fingers, ready to fight if necessary.

After several minutes pass, my brows furrow in confusion when neither makes a move toward me or even makes a sound. Peeking up I see they are staring openly; their expressions caught somewhere between awe and disbelief. Their intense gazes make unease crawl beneath my skin. I cannot understand what could possibly cause them to show disbelief. I am the one who should experience that expression, unless perhaps my act of submission is somehow improper among their kind.

My thoughts are abruptly torn away when I feel a small furry body brush against my leg. My pink eyes widen and I instantly spring up from my kneeling position, heart hammering violently in my chest. Looking down at my feet, I discover none other than the pack's unruly kit pressed against the side of my leg. The tiny creature lets out a soft whimper, immediately drawing the attention of the two powerful non-humans.

Having temporarily forgotten about the pack amidst my terror, I hurriedly scoop the kit into my arms and clutch him tightly against my chest as though he is my only tether to sanity. In a flash instinct takes over. A deep, fearsome growl rumbles from my throat while sharp snarls baring my sharp canines at the two men.

When I picked up the kit, all fear began to vanish in an instant. If I allow myself to remain afraid, then protecting this young one will become impossible. Fear would weaken my resolve and make me hesitate in battle, which means death. With these two men I was so scared that I didn't even attempt to fight them like I should have, instead I just gave in to the strong emotion.

The men's eyes flick between the kit and me, confusion marring their faces as they try to understand why I am so desperately trying to shield the tiny animal from them. Then something like realization suddenly crosses both faces. Both sets of eyes widen so dramatically they nearly pop out of their sockets as they finally notice my white fox ears perched atop my head and the nine pristine tails moving cautiously behind me.

The powerful man slowly raises one hand in surrender, palms open and empty, and after a brief pause the other does the same. Hoping that the gesture means they truly mean no harm to the kit, I allow the fox fire in my hand to finally extinguish, the blue flames dissolving into glowing blue embers before fading completely. Gradually, I force my tense body to relax, retracting my sharp canines, though I remain alert, prepared for the slightest sign of danger.

The powerful man takes a slow, hesitant step forward, the leaves crunching softly beneath his heavy boots. Instantly another deep growl rips from my chest, low and threatening, causing the little fox kit in my arms to press closer against me. The sound freezes both men in place, tension thickening the air around us. "We have no intention of harming you or your pet. If this is your territory, we are sorry for unintentionally trespassing." the dark-haired man says carefully, his deep voice calm despite the obvious caution in his blue eyes.

At the word pet, my lips curl back slightly in disgust, and another warning growl escapes me, sharper this time. The idea of calling a fox my pet is deeply insulting. Foxes are intelligent, proud creatures, not animals meant to belong to anyone. Seeing my reaction, the other man quickly lifts both of his hands up. "Sorry that he called the fox your pet. Is it your friend?" He asks cautiously, his tone soft as if trying not to offend me

My lips purse and I give a small nod, tightening my hold on the tiny fox. In truth, the little one is far more than just a friend. He is family, one of the few precious things left in my life, but I have no intention of explaining that to two dangerous strangers lurking in the middle of the forest.

"My name is Damon Light, and this is Charlie McGregor," the powerful one says gesturing first to himself and then to the other man standing slightly behind him. Instead of replying I stare at the two with disinterest, however, my face is unreadable. Their names mean nothing to me. Right now, my pack is probably frightened and waiting anxiously for my return, hidden somewhere deeper in the forest. All I want is for these men to leave so I can get back to the foxes.

Damon lets out a quiet sigh and runs a hand through his messy black hair, clearly frustrated by my silence. A few dark strands fall across his sharp eyes as he studies me carefully, as though trying to figure out what kind of creature I am. "Will you tell us your name?" he asks a question for a third time, voice sounding strangely uncertain, almost awkward, as if he has no idea how to speak to me.

For a brief second I pause, suspicion twisting in my chest. Then, against my better judgment, my lips part. "Lotus." The name comes out before I can stop myself. I have no idea why I just so easily revealed my name to these two strangers, but something deep inside me insisted that I should. Both men visibly relax at finally getting me to speak, faint smiles crossing their faces as though they had accomplished something important.

"Lotus what?" Charlie asks curiously, tilting his head slightly.

I glare at him coldly before answering. "Just Lotus. I was not bestowed with a last name." The two exchange an odd glance before turning their attention back to me, which only irritates me further.

Damon offers me a warm smile, clearly trying to appear harmless despite the overwhelming power radiating from him. "May I ask what you are doing out here in the forest alone? It can be very dangerous being out here by yourself considering you never know what could be hiding in the trees."

As he speaks, his blue eyes sweep across the surrounding area, scanning the towering trees and thick underbrush. It is obvious he can tell no other beings are nearby. Someone like him would sense another creature hiding close by without having to look.

Knowing very well that I am not alone, I gently rub my cheek against the tiny fox kit in my arms. The little creature lets out a soft yip and bats at my nose with one fluffy paw, instantly pulling a rare smile reserved on for the foxes onto my face. "I am not alone," I reply quietly. "I'm here with my pack. The forest is indeed dangerous, which is why it is my job to protect them."

Charlie's eyes widen dramatically at my words. "Your packs? You are out here protecting an entire pack all by yourself?!" He blurts out, genuine disbelief coating his voice. I simply nod in response, not seeing why this should surprise him, while also feeling a slight sense of pride for being the one protecting the pack.

Damon's brows furrow deeply in confusion. "I don't sense anyone nearby. Where is your pack?" His body stiffens slightly as he listens carefully to the forest around us. His nose twitches subtly while he sniffs the air, clearly trying to pick up the scent of another supernatural creature. He finds nothing except dirt, pine, and foxes.

For some unknown reason, my mouth opens before I can stop myself, and I stupidly reveal where my pack is hidden. "They are maybe a hundred feet away. They've safely hidden themselves the way I taught them," I explain, able to feel exactly where every fox is concealed among the dense brush and hollowed roots. The two men stare at me as if I have grown a second head, their expressions bordering on bewilderment. Their reaction annoys me because I know perfectly well, they can smell the large group of foxes hidden nearby.