Still

Into The Woods

They say women have intuition. My intuition was unnerving. It is one thing to have a feeling something or someone might not be good and sometimes make the right assumption. It was completely different to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that evil was surrounding a place. I had this sense of foreboding, of dread, the deeper we got into the woods. I could smell it in the air, heard it in the eerie silence, felt it in the muddy path my feet trod. There was a familiar darkness here. A darkness that felt like the greatest pain I’d ever had multiplied tenfold.

“I don’t like this place. This isn’t a place we should be.” I said to no one in particular. Of course, Mason heard me and looked in my direction.

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s something powerful here. I think we should leave.”

“Sorry, little demon. We’re not going anywhere without the information we came for. A man’s family is in mourning now because of your kind. They need answers more than we do, which makes it all the more important to see this through. I didn’t ask you to come. If you wanna leave, find your own way back.”

“The monsters who killed that man are not my kind and I wish you would stop saying that.”

“What? You want me to lie to you? This isn’t some fairytale, little demon. Your parents are monsters and, whether you like it or not, you are a monster. Your father drinks blood. Your mother curses people she doesn’t like. Innocents too, I’m sure. You were raised by them. Stands to reason, you learned a thing or two.” The rage came out of nowhere. It wasn’t the first time Mason had dropped those remarks, but my ire was instantaneous. My arm went back, my hand came up, and before I realized what I was about to do, I slapped him across the face hard enough to send him to his knees. I immediately felt regret.

“I’m so sorry! I don’t know what came over me.” When he stood up, he was working his jaw and tonguing the blood on his lip. The two men behind me c****d their guns, and I was waiting for a bullet to pierce my back, but it never happened.

“That’s quite an arm you’ve got there, little demon. Must be that vampire half of you. I probably did cross the line, but don’t you ever put your hands on me again. Justified or not.” Was he for real?

“Don’t disrespect my family like that, and I won’t have to.” I retorted. He narrowed his eyes at me, but there was no anger in them. He was impressed. I didn’t know what to do with that.

“Come on.” he said, gesturing with a tilt of his head which direction we were going in. I never understood people who did that. Were their hands broken? Were they deaf and mute? Did they have neck spasms when they thought about directions? I sighed.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

We forged ahead. Every step twisted the knot in my stomach. So much negative energy. I felt drained but strong in the same vein. I can feel them here. I could hear them. As a result, I was now hyper aware of everything around me and Mason noticed. His steps became more calculated, more stealthy, and the few men he had with him followed suit. I sucked in all the dank air I could and moved deeper into the forest. I had to be brave. I could wimp out and go home, but what would that mean for my life expectancy? I was terrified but I had to move forward. I heard the dry leaves on the ground picking up in a gust of wind. It wasn’t the wind from above, though. Something was out here with us. I could feel their energy. Whatever or whoever it was, they were powerful and dangerous. Not a minute later, one of the men behind me let out a yelp from the horror movies. When I turned around, a man was gone and another lay on the ground with bite marks on his neck. He was so pale. The vampire that attacked him must have drained him of all his blood. I turned to run and came face to face with the monster. His eyes were deep blue, and they seemed to reflect his confusion and mine. What was this urge I felt? This deep-seated need to be near him? His hand came up to caress my cheek and I found myself nuzzling into his touch. This was intense, whatever it was. The sudden desire I felt for this beautiful monster was surprisingly welcome. I wanted him like I needed fresh air. He opened his mouth and said words I never expected to hear.

“My beautiful mate. You are mine. I am yours. I have been waiting for you for seven years, and finally you’re here.” Before I could say anything, he picked me up in his arms and sped away.

I had no idea where he was taking me, but I felt safe with him. Although I didn’t know his name, I just knew it was something beautiful.

“My name is Kieran Drake.” His voice sent a chill through me. It was kinda... sexy. An impish grin stretched across his face. Was he reading my mind? “Mates have a neuro-link. I can hear your thoughts, feel your pain, your fear. Your desire. Soon you’ll learn how to hear my thoughts.” I blushed. I’d have to control my thoughts, then. “Please don’t. A mate is forever because they do not hide their minds. Our bond is eternal.” I fell silent for a moment, not sure what to think of this situation.

“Cassandra Morgan.” He seemed to recognize the name, but he didn’t say anything. “Did you kill those guys back there?” I felt him stiffen in response and a muscle in his jaw ticked.

“I will do whatever it takes to protect you, Cassandra. Their minds were filthy. They were thinking of doing all manner of evil to you. One wanted to violate you in every possible way, so I drank him dry. The other wanted nothing more than to have your head. I broke his neck and threw him into a tree.” I don’t know why his words made tears well up in my eyes. There I was thinking they were flanking me for my protection when, in reality, they were the danger to begin with. Now I am standing here with my apparent mate and I don't know what to do.