Enchanted By The Lawn Wolf

He fell to his knees at the edge of the first step, pulling himself up with his arms, crawling to the top, the blackness edging farther and farther into his vision. Crawling on his hands and knees to the door, he could feel the extent of the damage the hunters had caused, could feel the effects of the drugs wearing off, ever so slowly. He knocked once, lightly, on the door, his arms not being able to bear his weight anymore, he laid his head down on the wood Lawn, closing his eyes to the the irresistible call of the dark. **** **** ***** Chapter 1. "Lily! You'll never believe what I just heard. Tess yells in my ear, sloshing her drink onto the kitchen floor as she shakes with excitement. At least, I hope it's the excitement she's shaking from. Maybe she's just had too many drinks. "Guess. Go ahead, I dare you." I sigh, pushing her back away from me, rolling my eyes at her giddiness. "Max wants to take me to the Fall Dance." She gasped, nodding wildly, her blond curls bouncing up and down with her head. "How'd you know? I had to practically sit in his lap to get him to tell me." She whines, pouting her lower lip at me, a look that has every guy in the room watching her with hungry eyes. "Laura told me. You know she doesn't know how to keep a secret." I lie, not wanting to tell him that he'd already asked, that I'd already said no. If she knew I said no to Max. She'd never leave me alone until I told her why, and I couldn't tell her why because I didn't know. "Oh, yea, you're right. I wish we had the typical high school Barbie that was a b***h to anyone instead of Laura." She whines again, gripping my arm tightly when I go to move away. Maybe I should rethink my no-drinking promise to my Dad. If I were drunk, it would take some of the squeals out of Tess's voice. "Hey girlies, how are we this fine evening?" Carla asks, wrapping her arms around Tess and me, rolling her eyes at me when Tess starts giggling uncontrollably. "Honeybunch, how much have you had to drink?" Tess frowns. "Dun know, some dude handed me a cup as soon as I walked in the door and it was up hill from there!" She giggles again, falling backwards into the counter before sliding down to the floor, passing out. I groan out loud, knowing who was handing out drinks at the door and knowing I wouldn't get out of tonight without his nagging, unless… "Hey, Carla, could you do me a huge favor?" Her eyes narrow, and she stomps her foot. "Get rid of Charlie before he makes his way back here? You know this is your party, right? You could mingle a little, get a little action tonight." She waggles her eyebrows at me. I snort. "Right, you know I'm gonna have to call a cab for everyone here, how the hell am I gonna manage to get any before Dad gets home?" "Good, point. Oh well I guess that just means I'll have to get some for you. I wonder if Dean digs redheads?" She saunters off, flirting with several guys as she passes them. I sigh, rubbing my forehead as I look out the window above the kitchen sink, staring at the full moon. What's with people and the full moon? I don't see how it is different from any other night, but people always act crazier when there's a full moon. Not that that says anything about the people around here, they don't need the full moon to be considered insane. But it is so pretty, so magical looking, and it makes me Tessa act as crazy as the people in my living room are, but I don't. Dad only agreed to let me have a party because it was my birthday. He'd kill me if I got drunk or acted like one of the town sluts. I'd be locked in my room till I left for college, with no visitation hours. "Ari? You okay, squirt? You're looking very deep in thought. It is kinda scary." I stick my tongue out at him, causing him to chuckle as he pulls me in for a hug. "Happy birthday, squirt. "Thanks, Ray, but you didn't have to fly down here just for my birthday. I bet Tessa's worried sick." I breathe in his scent, snuggling closer to his natural warmth, not wanting to let him gO. "Tessa's fine, she wanted to come to, but the doc's got her on bed rest." He grins at me, pulling away and handing me a small, black box with a bright blue bow on the top. Presents, this is our tradition, one of us goes to see the other on their birthday, and we bring one gift, my brother's a cheap ass. "What is it? Condoms? You know Dad grounded me when he found those in my bathroom? I couldn't leave the house for a week." He chuckles and nudges me to open the box. I pull the bow off the lid and stare at what's inside, pushing away the tears. "You like it? I know how you wear Mom's charm bracelet all the time, and you don't have many charms for it, so I figured I'd get you one that'd remind you of Mom." I grin at him, holding my wrist and the small silver charm. A ballerina, Mom was a ballerina before the crash. Ray knew I'd always wanted to be a dancer too, but I'd never had the coordination for it. "I love it, thank you. Its real silver isn't it, Ray this must have cost a fortune." "Nah, I figured I'd get you something you'd love so you wouldn't call men chennass again." He looks at his watch, grimaces and hugs me again. "Dammit, I gotta go. I got work in the morning, and with Tessa on bed rest, I gotta get, Bradley from school. Happy birthday, squirt. Love you." He hollers, working his way back through the crowd and out the door before I can yell back at him. This is our tradition. As sucky as it is, it's all either of us has time for. One night a year, for a couple of hours, if we're lucky, we visit each other a little bit. I hate it, but it's all Dad will allow. "Hey, Tessa! We're gonna go. Thanks for the booze!" A couple yells from the door, leading the others out with similar calls. No one says happy birthday, no one knows it's my birthday, no one cares that it is my birthday and this is the way I want it. I don't bother calling a cab for people like I told Carla, I was gonna do it. It's not my fault if the drunks crash. They should know better by now. Instead. I stare out the kitchen window at the moon, my hands itching to draw it. I'm not a good artist, but that doesn't stop me from drawing, even when everyone tells me I should. "Lily? You alright, girlie?" I nod, watching Carla and her date carry Tess out of the house, not saying goodbye when they leave. Carla knows today was my birthday, and she knows how much I hate it, so she says nothing about it. Once everyone is gone, I start cleaning in the living room, with the music blaring as loud as it will go, not caring if I bother anyone. There's never anyone out here to bother, so why should I care? Beer cans, cups, papers, anything you would think to find at a high school party is strung all over the living room floor. Normally I'd leave it till tomorrow morning, but Dad said he'll be back at noon, and if he doesn't get his lunch, I won't get my present, and I want my present. As I'm throwing the beer cans into a trash bag, Snow, my German Shepherd, comes barreling down the stairs, barking, running straight the kitchen door. I frown, dropping the bag as I walk to the kitchen to see her clawing at the door, whining, trying to get out. "What's wrong, Snow? You gotta go outside, girl?" I unlock the door, opening it slightly, but she doesn't move, only growls loudly, her upper lip curling back over her teeth. "Snow? What's out there, girl?" I push the door open wider, ignoring the nagging in the back of my mind and stare at the sight before me. Snow backs up, pushing me with her, growling, snarling at the man/boy/whoever that's lying on the Lawn butt naked. There are scratches down his back and legs, a large puddle of blood pooling from his side, and it doesn't look like he's breathing. "What the hell? Snow, move. I gotta make sure he's still breathing." She doesn't move, whining at me when I walk around her and kneel beside the guy, checking his pulse. It's there, but hardly. What the hell do I do?!