DANCE IN THE MOONLIGHT

Nowhere to Hide

Valeria was scrubbing the faint mark on her left chest in the shower. No matter how hard she scrubbed, it wouldn't come off!

"Damn it!" Finally, she gave up, rinsed one last time, and stepped out of the shower.

It was the weekend; she had sent a letter to her mother stating that she wouldn't be able to visit home. She wanted to quietly think about the things she was experiencing within the stone walls of the school. Her few roommates had already left for home. Just as she sat comfortably on her bed in her silk robe, the sound at the door signaled that this brief moment of pleasure would be impossible.

Closing her silk robe tightly, she went to the door. When she peeked her head out and saw Lucian, she took a deep breath and opened the door wide. 'Here we go again...'

Lucian hadn't expected to see her with wet hair and only a robe. He felt his heart race even faster at this sight. "You're making it impossible for me to stay away from you, Valeria."

Although Valeria was happy at this comment, she frowned instead of showing it. Lucian walked in with a smile and closed the door behind him. When Valeria saw the man walking toward her, she started to step back. "You need to learn by now that you can't hide anything from me."

As Valeria leaned her back against the wall, Lucian trapped her by placing his hands on the wall. The smirk on his face spread even wider. "You're smiling like a creep," Valeria said, ignoring her racing heart.

"Is that coming from you—the one who thought, 'I could watch this smile forever'?"

Valeria’s eyes widened at what she heard.

"I feel when you are scared, happy, surprised, excited, or sad..." Lucian brought his lips close to her neck. "I am you, Valeria... never forget that." Lucian quickly pulled back and sat on her bed. "Now get dressed quickly, or I won't be responsible for what happens."

Valeria felt her anger rising. She decided to put on the first thing she could grab. Taking her clothes, she headed back to the bathroom and dressed quickly. Luckily, what she grabbed was a dress without a corset that she felt comfortable in. When she went back to Lucian with the same annoyance, she saw him lying on her bed.

"Why are you still here?" Valeria asked wearily.

Lucian turned to her and replied, "I'm hungry. Do you want to go to the city and hang out for a bit?"

Valeria folded her arms tightly across her chest. "I just wanted to spend my weekend quietly."

Lucian tilted his head slightly. "Silence..." he murmured, as if weighing the word. "It doesn't suit you much."

Valeria rolled her eyes. "I can be perfectly silent."

Lucian smiled this time, but this smile... wasn't like the previous ones. It was shallower, shorter. "No," he said clearly. "You only think you're being silent."

Valeria frowned. "What do you mean again?"

Lucian didn't answer. His gaze slowly slid from Valeria's face, to her neck, and for a second... just a very brief second... to her chest. Valeria’s breath caught.

"Your mind is so noisy that it only stays silent if you focus on the book you're reading," Lucian said finally, his voice low. "Physically, you can be quiet and alone..." He stepped toward Valeria and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as if stroking it. "But it never stays silent in here."

Valeria took a step back. "You're talking nonsense."

Lucian actually laughed this time. But there was no sound. Only his lips moved. "Is that so?" he said. He took another step closer. Valeria stayed where she was; she didn't pull back. When Lucian stood right in front of her, the distance between them was almost non-existent.

"So..." he said calmly. "Do you really think you can stay alone this weekend?"

Valeria’s heart sped up. But this time, it wasn't from fear. "Is that a threat?" she asked.

Lucian tilted his head. "No." He thought for a short moment. "...but you can think of it that way if you want."

Valeria finally moved away from where she was rooted and began to comb her hair in front of the mirror. Every now and then, she looked at the man in the mirror, who was lying back on the bed watching her. But Lucian had already drifted off into thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Valeria asked, turning slowly.

"The color of your fur and eyes when your transformation is complete."

Valeria turned back around; she really didn't want this. "I know you don't want it... but you can't change it. This is what you are."

Valeria paused with the comb in her hand. She was watching him through the mirror. Lucian was still on the bed, his head propped on his elbow, watching her. But this look... was different. More attentive. More... expectant.

Valeria couldn't help it. "How did you discover your abilities?"

"I realized it one day when I woke up. I could hear, see, and move differently than before."

Valeria turned to him. "All of a sudden?"

Lucian nodded. "I was turned later, but you have carried these genes since you were born."

Valeria turned back to the mirror, absentmindedly running the comb through her hair. "Why were you turned anyway? I don't think it's such a perfect thing."

"If they had asked for my opinion, I wouldn't have wanted it either."

Valeria quickly shifted her gaze to Lucian. "What do you mean? Did they force you?"

Lucian took a deep breath. "I was about to die. They did it so I wouldn't." Valeria's eyes grew even larger. Lucian knew she wanted to hear more detail. "I was a good rider. I used to win many competitions... There was someone I constantly beat. My biggest rival and enemy. One day, they cornered me. I'm sure their intention was only to cripple me, but they went a little too far."

When Lucian paused, Valeria asked curiously, "Go on, what happened then?"

"I had neither the strength to make a sound nor to move. The last thing I remember as my eyes were closing was someone running toward me. Then when I woke up, I wasn't the old me anymore." He paused again. "Lilia... Lilia found me and turned me. I am the strongest of my pack."

"And... if I transform... what will I be?"

Lucian smiled at her innocent question. "We can only know when you transform." He sat up on the bed. "But I'm sure you'll be stronger than me."

Valeria smiled a little. The thought of taking his place made her laugh.

"That is, if we can still stay in the pack."

"What does that mean?" Valeria’s smile vanished.

"It means I'll either be killed or exiled."

***

Irene was enjoying waking up late since it was the weekend. Moreover, in her own bed... Was her bed always this warm? She didn't care. Since she wasn't at school, she didn't mind. When she slowly opened her eyes, she saw a pair of eyes looking at her.

"Finally, you're awake."

Irene let out a small scream and didn't expect to fall to the floor while trying to scramble back. What was Lucas doing in her bed?

"Are you okay?" Lucas said, sitting up in bed.

Irene was still in shock. "What are you doing in my bed?!"

"This is my bed too..."

Irene stood up quickly and looked at the man speaking with such ease. "Excuse me!?" She didn't understand this man. "What are you doing in my bed, you psycho?!"

Lucas shrugged. "It's very comfortable."

Comfortable? Irene began to laugh out of frustration. This man had finally succeeded in driving her crazy.

"Irene? Are you okay?" Her mother knocked on the door and asked. Just as she was about to open it, Irene quickly blocked the door.

"I'm fine, I just fell out of bed, Mom," she tried to say while laughing.

"Who are you talking to?" Her mother was overly curious.

"To no one! You must have misheard, Mommy."

She finally managed to send her mother away. She turned back to Lucas in anger. He was still sitting comfortably on her bed. "Your mother is as curious as you are."

"But answering her doesn't kill me, does it?" Irene spoke in a lowered, suggestive tone.

Lucas didn't seem to care at all. "You talk a lot in your sleep, Irene."

"Why are you here?"

Lucas got up and headed to the bookshelf. "Your books are very boring. Did you seriously read these?"

Irene was both angry and surprised. "Why were you in my bed?"

This time, Lucas opened her closet. "Should we replace these with new ones?"

This was too much for Irene. She quickly went to the man, grabbed his arm, and turned him toward her. "Can't you just answer one of my questions? I thought you said you wouldn't come to me again? Why are you here?"

"Don't you want me to come to you?"

"Why did you kiss me, Lucas?"

"Did that bother you?"

Irene ruffled her hair in frustration. "Do you have to answer my questions with questions?!" She was having trouble controlling her tone of voice.

Lucas smiled. This indifferent smile was driving Irene completely insane. "Where does this air of perfection come from, Lucas? Who do you think you are?"

The man shrugged again.

"Fine. From now on, I'll be to you exactly how you are to me. I'm going to ignore you."

As Irene went to leave the room, the hand holding her waist stopped her, and the threatening voice right behind her ear froze her. "You cannot ignore me, Irene; I haven't given you such a luxury."