Dangerous Beauty

Chapter 2:Visitors

The end of the day can't seem to come soon enough as I rush home with the folder full of stories sitting in my passenger seat. I've spent the day pouring over story after story, reading over half of them and analyzing every last detail, only to find they all mention the gray wolf and a coming battle in which he is trying to destroy me, and everyone I come into contact with is some kind of supernatural being. When I get home, I let hades in from outside and pour myself a glass of vodka and coke before sitting down at my living room table and reading the rest of the stories. It takes me roughly an hour o finish them all and each one leaves me feeling more and more panicked and confused. After finishing my third drink I come to the conclusion that there is only one thing left form me to do. I need to visit my grandfather’s hunting cabin in the wood. Before he died everything on this land belonged to him. He built this house the stables outside, and his hunting cabin in the woods. All on a little over 5 acres of land. When I turned 17 he died and left it all behind in his will for me to take over when I turned 18 and I moved in after graduation. I spent so much time here as a child and in the cabin with him that it’s been hard to go back with out him there to sit and tell me stories about werewolves and vampyres.

After making sure my hiking bag is ready I go to the kitchen door with Hades at my heels ready and knowing. It only takes about 10 minutes for Hades and I to reach the cabin. I haven’t come out here in well over a year and it shows in the over growth surrounding the small wooden building. While I move to unlock the door, Hades runs around the perimeter of the building looking for anything that could be dangerous, of course finding nothing more than a few birds and a rabbit. The door is old and sticks when I try to open it the frame having swollen due to humidity, throw my shoulder into the door and it finally opens with a loud creaking noise and a rush of humid air. The inside of the cabin is dark and smells of dust, mildew, and tobacco. The smell of the tobacco threatens to bring tears to my eyes as I am hit with the realization that even after all these years the smell of him still lingers her. I carefully reach inside to the wall to my write and feel around for the light switch surprised when the light comes on electricity humming through the walls.

Everything is exactly as I left it over a year ago when I last visited her everything in pace in now covered in a layer of dust. Hades trots inside content with himself for chasing off all the creepy crawlies and takes his place lying beside the desk in the corner where I used to sit with grandfather and help line the fishing poles. It's been so long since those days have passed that I find my memories are fading little pieces blurring here and there. And yet, I can almost see him sitting in his chair readying the fishing poles going on about the supernatural while I sat at his feet watching and listening eagerly. What was it that he was telling me in his stories? I can’t remember them as clearly now as I once did. I can’t help but also wonder if his stories are the reason I am having these bizarre dreams. Perhaps that’s why my parents didn’t approve of him telling them to me, but they never stopped him. Maybe I’m remembering them now subconsciously in his absence. I have to find the answer, perhaps he had written his stories down somewhere so he would remember them in order to tell me later. I begin searching shelves and boxes for some sort of clue as to what my grandfather knew about my dreams or what it was that may have been causing them. And that’s when I see it. An old, leather bound journal tucked away on the underside of grandfather’s desk.

Carefully I pull it out of it's hiding spot and watch as a small folded up piece of paper flutters to the floor. To My Little Witch. It reads on the front, the nickname grandfather gave me because of my red hair and sea green eyes. He said they made me look like a witch. I carefully open the paper and read what is written.

My dearest Lilith,

It would seem that my time has come to tell you good-bye. I know that some day you will find this note and the journal with it. I pray that what’s inside will give you the answers you are looking for. Please know that I love you with all my heart little witch and that some day soon, we will meet again. Until then read this journal and find your answers. Be safe. I love you.

~Grandfather Titus

Was this his own personal journal? I carefully untie and unwind the worn leather ties and open the cover and reading the writing on the first page.

November 21, 1996

She was born today, my beautiful granddaughter. While I am overcome with joy I can’t help but be filled with fear of what kind of life she will have. The gene skipped a generation with my daughter Annie but Lilith was not so lucky. It is in her now and stronger than ever, and even though she is no more than a day old I can feel the power she has in her, I can see it in those sea green eyes so unlike anything I've ever seen. The others can feel it too. Her parents have no idea the power she holds, or the danger that she is in because of it. It won't be long before Luther senses it and comes seeking to destroy it, and her. She must be protected, but I cannot be there always to provide her with the protection she needs. I will instead charge Joseph and Abram with protecting her and guiding her in my absence until she comes into her abilities on her own and when she is ready. My time is limited now I don't know how much longer I have left, it could be hours, it could be years. But I will do my best to ready her for what is to come, I will educate her so she knows of her history and be ready for her future.

When I finish the entry, my head is reeling and tears spill down my cheeks though I try to bite them back. What could he possibly mean? What powers? What gene? Was it my fault he died? My dark spiral is cut short by the sound of Hades growling menacingly at the front door where he has placed himself strategically between it and me his head lowered and teeth barred.

"Hades? What's wrong?”

And that's when I hear it. The sound of heavy paws moving through the brush outside.

"Hades?"

A mountain lion? No. Bigger. The sounds of the heavy steps stops outside one of the only windows and slowly I lift my eyes to meet the gaze of two glowing orange eyes. Terror floods me and my heart beat quickens. It can't be, the wolf from my dreams. He's standing here looking at me through the window with his head lowered so he can peer within. He is massive standing at a staggering five and a half feet tall on all fours. Hades instantly erupts into to vicious fit of barks and growls as he places himself like a barrier between me and the window where the wolf is starring with its now barred teeth, snarling hungrily as he watches me. This can't be happening, this can't be real. Suddenly the sound of heavy paws is heard again moving fast toward the cabin and the wolf looks away turning its attention to whatever else is coming. I can hear the fight break out before I can see it. Two more wolves have come and are attacking the first gradually pushing him away from the cabin. I take the chance. Throwing the cabin door open I race back toward home Hades following behind ready to protect me.

It takes us no more than 3 minutes to race back to the house. My exposed skin is covered in cuts and scrapes from running carelessly through the brush. I didn’t know I could run so fast. Hades and I race inside where I lock both the kitchen door and the front door. What the hell is happening!? A voice in my head screams as I shut the curtains. What happened back there in the forest? Hades whines worriedly as he pushes his head under my hand looking for comfort and reassurance that I am okay.

"Good boy hades," I praise him breathlessly and scratch behind his ears.

After he is reassured that all is well I move to the kitchen and make myself a drink and head back to. That's when I realized I left the journal behind in my panic. With a heavy sigh I decide that I will once again venture to the cabin tomorrow and retrieve it. But for now, I am going to try and forget what I saw. As I sit on the couch and try to forget I reread my grandfather’s journal entry over and over again in my head trying to decipher what he meant. But drinking has not made anything any clearer. With I sigh I get up and go to my room to take a shower and go to bed. Once again I feel like I am being watched. But this time not by a predator, but by a protector. I’m not sure when I fall asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I wake to sunlight flooding in through my window. Is it morning already? Thump. Thump. Thump. The sound echoes through my tired mind. Did I sleep through the night? Thump. Thump. Thump. Again. This time the sound of Hades barking follows. Is someone at the door? I wonder as I pry open my eyes heavy with sleep. What time is it? I roll over and check my phone. 12:30 p.m. Crap. I sit up wearily in bed and look at the glass on my bed side table. How much did I drink last night? THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. The sound comes more insistently on my front door.

"I'm coming!" I yell, slightly irritated as I pull myself out of bed and shuffle out to the living room.

Running my fingers through my hair I peak out the window and see a small gray Chevy Malibu in my driveway. Claudia. With all that happened last night I had completely forgotten she was coming over today to help me set up for a small Halloween get together. Last night. What had actually happened last night? Was it just another vivid nightmare? A glance down at me scraped arms tells me it wasn’t. With a heavy sigh I reach for my cardigan on the hook by the door and unlock the deadbolt, pulling the door open to reveal Claudia's annoyed expression, her eyes full of disbelief when she sees me.

“Are you kidding me!?” she asks, her voice filled with the same disbelief that I can see in her eye, also met with a tone of disappointment, “I’ve been texting you non-stop for the past hour! We were supposed to meet up here at 11 what happened!?”

“I was asleep,” I tell her flatly, stepping aside to let her in.

“You never sleep in this late! Have you been drinking?” she asks judgingly.

“I had a few drinks last night I was stressed after grading papers all night,” I lie, “and besides it’s not like I drink all the time,” I snap lightly as I close the door behind her and make my way to the kitchen.

She sighs, following me “Did you at least sleep decently?” she asks knowingly.

“Sort of,” I tell her as I start a pot of coffee.

“Sort of?”

“Yeah, I still had a bit of a rough night,” I explain.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asks a small tone of caring creeping into her voice.

“Not really.”

Claudia is a decently pretty bisexual girl of 25 to my 22 standing at a height of 5’7” with wide shoulders and hips that give her the appearance of having and hour glass like figure with straight, light brown, hair and eyes to match. But that’s about as physically attractive as she gets. It’s her personality that is probably the most unattractive thing about her at times. She only cares about people as long as it suits her, once they no longer do what she wants, she will pretend to like them only to talk s**t about them behind their back. Even still, she is one of my best friends. Despite her flaws she is still honest and has always been there for me when I needed someone. I wouldn’t trade her for the world.

“Do we know how many people are coming tonight?” I ask her as I pour myself a cup of coffee.

“So far it’s just Fallon, Easton, Spencer, my friend Aiden, and me.”

“Easton is coming?” I ask her locking eyes with her.

“Yes,..” she says her confident tone faltering.

Easton is the younger brother of Claudia’s boyfriend Spencer. He stands roughly 6’ tall with shaggy, sandy blonde hair and blue-gray eyes. He’s a sweet boy, full of confidence befitting his age of 18 years old. For the past few years Claudia has been carrying on some kind of relationship with him right under Spencer’s oblivious nose. Thinking about it I can’t help but feel an intense sensation of not only foreboding, but anger as I think about the problems this could cause, and I want no part of it, no tonight.

“I swear to the god I don’t believe in Claudia, if you start s**t with your little infatuation on my property tonight you will not be allowed back for an indefinite amount of time,” I tell her with venom on my tongue and fire in my gazes.

My sudden change in tone makes her recoil as she nods slowly in understanding, “I won’t I promise,” she says and I know she means what she says, though I am unsure of to what extent.

“No who is Aiden?” I ask her in a calmer tone sipping my coffee.

“He’s a friend of mine from high school,” she explains pulling out her phone to show me a picture of a guy with brown hair so dark it’s almost black and bright blue eyes. I nod lightly in understanding.

“He isn’t going to cause any trouble is he?”

“No, he won’t, but he might bring Amber with him,” she explains.

“Who’s Amber?” I ask.

“She’s just this girl he’s been seeing for a few years, they met after he graduated high school.”

“She one of those easily jealous girls?” I ask and she nods, “Great,” I sigh and down the rest of my coffee.

“I’m going to go change and fix my hair and makeup do you want me to fix yours?” I ask her as I start to walk out of the kitchen with her following close behind.

“Yes please!” she say excitedly as we walk into my room.

It takes me a total of two hours to fix our hair and makeup, most of that time being spent on Claudia. During the time we spent making ourselves over we decided it would be a good idea to run into town for food and liquor for tonight. Before we leave we call Fallon to have her meet us at my house. It doesn’t take her long to show. Fallon is the shortest of the three of us at 5’4” with cropped ginger colored hair and dark brown eyes. She is a spritely 23-year-old who struggles to be totally honest at times but she always has the best intentions. Her and I have been friends for 3 years, longer than either of us have been friends with Claudia who we have only known for a year. But it feels like it’s been forever. I am closer to her than I am to Claudia.

We pile into my 2003 Ford Mustang and head into town, listening to music and joking along the way.