Hunted in Darkness

Dinner

8:00 Maxim stood in front of his pack, as their Alpha, and announced “ As you all know, today we have been lucky to gain two new members of our pack, and though they are not exactly like us in every way, they are family now and to be protected as we protect all our brothers and sisters. I’m pleased to introduce Katinka, and Emile. They are to be treated as though they are under my direct protection at all times. Now, let us eat and enjoy each other’s company.” I could feel the curious stares of those around me, but everyone was impeccably polite, Maxim was respected as a father to his pack, and they loved him being their Alpha because he was fair and kind. Nobody would dream of being rude to anyone he protected. They piled food generously onto plates, and we were served some kind of pudding, made from the blood of rabbit. It was surprisingly good, and very nourishing. I ate heartily, I hadn’t realized before now how hungry I had become. Em seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly, and was talking to the Beta he was seated next to. I was seated next to a younger girl, who made small talk with me while sniffing the air discreetly, I presume she was looking for the smell of grave dirt. 

I smiled to myself and enjoyed the company. I would have to remember to tell Marcy “Thanks” for placing us with the perfect pack.

When we returned to our room, several hours later, I checked my phone and read the text from Dorthea ‘Only a little left before it’s ready, don’t start howling at the moon. Luv ya.’ Witches got jokes. I was relieved to think she might be ready soon, the pack was wonderful, but I didn’t want to spend the rest of my days playing in the woods behind the building, and a nagging fear for my new friends filled me. What if it came and these wonderful people had to put their lives in danger for us. The thought filled me with terror. I looked out the window and watched two wolves playing in the moonlight. I wasn’t sure if they were wild wolves, or wolves from this pack, but the moonlight glinted off their coats and for a moment I envied their freedom.

A text from Nick came in with more worrying news. ‘Doc, someone broke into your apartment, police couldn’t reach you, but your lawyer is here, says you’re safe but out of town. Just checking on you, doesn’t look like anything was taken.’ I showed the text to Em who immediately looked worried, but tried to reassure me. “It was probably just those thugs, but still, I’m going to go talk to Maxim and let him know.” I replied to Nick ‘ I’m fine, please don’t worry’ and finally to Marcy ‘ Heard about the apartment, is everything okay?’ she quickly returned my text, assuring me that nothing was taken or harmed, it looked like they were after me only. Emile left to find Max, between the two of them, I was starting to feel like I was under protective custody. I flung myself across the bed with a sigh and closed my eyes. So much had happened, so quickly, and I was exhausted. I felt myself drifting off to sleep, and try as hard as I might, I couldn’t stop from slipping into a dream state.

The monster had become more human looking, healthier. His copper skin shone with tone and definition, his face would have been handsome if not for deep glittering pits serving for eyes. He smiled and extended a hand. “ Come be my queen, we will rule the darkness together.” he beckoned me with talon tipped fingers. Terror filled me, I could not become this thing’s bride. “You don’t have a choice.” It whispered and stepped towards me. “No, no,no” I chanted louder and louder until it was a scream. The beast laughed at me and wrapped his hand around my throat. “You will do as I command, or you will die.” he flung me and I felt myself hitting something solid. I could hear yelling somewhere, but the darkness enveloped me and I folded over into it.

Max lifted Kat’s twisted body from the corner and laid her on the bed, Emile covered her, sobbing her name like a mantra. Max tried to sooth the other man, but knew how his wolf would feel if anyone, especially an unseen hand, had done this to his Luna. Rage welled up inside of him, his wolf pacing fiercely within. He examined the bruises on her neck from unseen fingers. Soon the pack doctor and Krysten were in the room too, and despite the fact Kat looked dead, she wasn’t, but she was injured gravely. He had seen her dangling there in mid air, screaming the word “No” when he came to Emile’s calls, and suddenly she had been flung, crashing into the wall with an awful cracking sound. Krysten sat next to the silent form, stroking Kat’s hair, a fierceness about her, as if someone had harmed her sister, angry tears streaming down her face. “I don’t know what I can do for this one, honestly, her heartbeat and breathing aren’t normal, but what is normal for a vampire? I think she has a cracked rib or two and a pretty good knock on the head. Everything I’ve read says she’ll mend, with time, or with blood.”The pack doctor looked apologetically from face to face before leaving the room. Emile had calmed down slightly from the brink of madness, but he still felt as if someone had gutted him. He extended his arm out and started to bite open his wrist, but a pale hand stopped him, he was exhausted too, and with bloodloss he would be less able to protect Kat than before. The Krysten’s soft lavender eyes probed her beloved’s, and though it made his wolf howl within him, he nodded. Krysten nipped open a spot on her scarred arms and pressed the blood against Kat’s lips. Max flinched at the sight of his beloved’s wound, and Emile collapsed helplessly, sobbing from exhaustion.

In the darkness, Kat lay curled up within herself, it hurt to move or think, but suddenly there was a soft glow and a silvery wolf appeared, with violet eyes. It pushed at her with its nose and licked her face, insisting she move, she must not stay in the darkness, it told her. She touched its soft fur and let it lead her back into the light. Her eyes fluttered open and were met by the lavender ones of Krysten, who stroked her hair lovingly. The coppery taste in her mouth was blood, but it tasted of lavender and wild honey, too. Krysten’s blood. She could never repay the kindness. Her hand reached feebely out and moved the arm at her lips, kissing it softly before releasing it. She felt the words form and escape her lips feebly “Thank you, sister.” Blood and night magic made them sisters now, bound by an apparition of a silver wolf, with violet eyes. Krysten smiled and curled up against Kat. Maxim settled in a chair watching them, all, protecting his Luna, from any harm, while Emile finally slept on the floor next to the bed, praying quietly to any gods that would listen to let the woman he loved and gave immortality to, have safety and peace. As night turned into day, the heavy drapes were drawn tightly and the vampires left alone to recover in darkness. Max held his Luna a little tighter, realizing how brave and kind she really was, and how lucky he was that she was not the one being hunted by a monster while he fought for his sanity. He feared for his pack, because he wasn’t sure he could protect them any better than he’d been able to protect Kat, but he would never turn away those who needed his protection, either.

Kat reached out for Emile in the darkness, and slid onto the floor, wrapping her arms around him. She could feel that although her body was broken, something inside his spirit was shattered too. She reached out with her thoughts and called his name silently in her mind. “Em, are you there?” ...the reply was groggy “Kat?” “Yes, Em, it’s me. I’m just checking on you.” ...”I should be checking on you...I love you , Kitty Kat, I was so scared.”…” Don’t be scared, Emmy, I’m okay, I’ve just been fighting monsters and playing with wolves. I love you too.” Her arms pulled tighter and held him, even though her rib cage throbbed an angry protest. A silver wolf played at the edge of her sleep, keeping the nightmares away. She would never tell Emile what the monster had asked of her.