Hidden Creek

Chapter Seven

                                                                                        Haven

    “I’m going.” With a thud, Goo hit the wall as I pushed past him. 

    “It’s a bad idea, Ven. You were almost gutted; they’re watching you.” He rubbed at his shoulder as he stepped in front of me again.

    “They’re not watching me. They’re hunting me. I’m tired of living in fear, Goo. I want a drink, so guess what I’m going to do.” I smiled and walked around him.

    “We have drinks here!” He called after me.

    I shook my head and kept walking. As soon as I was out the door, Bammiuk was by my side, keeping pace with me. “What do you think you’re doing?” He barked.

    “I think I’m going to get a drink at the tavern.” 

    “Do you have a death wish?” 

    “No, I’m just exhausted with living in constant fear. I refuse to live like this, Bammi.”

    “Fine.” As we continued our walk to the garage, I gave him a puzzled look. “I’m obviously going with you. If you’re so determined to get killed, I’m going down with you.”

    “They won’t attack again so soon. They’re hoping I took a hit and plan to cower for a bit. If anything, this is a show of strength.” I shrugged as I slid onto my motorcycle.

    “I think you have more than a few delusions of grandeur.” He shook his head as he hopped on his own bike.

    “And I think you need to remember who you’re talking to, Zeta.”

    “Yes, Alpha.” He practically hissed.

                                                                                            Nik

    “Why are we here?” Stanly sighed as we walked up to the Red Moon Tavern. 

    “I wanted a drink.” I shrugged and pulled the door open.

    “A drink of a blood soaked girl he can’t get off his mind.” Lawrence rolled his eyes.

    “No. No?” Stanly shook his head in exasperation. “We aren’t still on this are we? That girl is definitely dead, no doubt about it.”

    “I don’t think she is, though.” Lawrence smirked. “I’ve heard about these s*x cults that have the initiates kill someone to prove their loyal and won’t talk. If they do go public, the cult can take them down for murder and discredit them.”

    “I...” I opened my mouth to respond, but couldn’t fully process Lawrence’s idiocy. “What the f**k, man?” 

    “All I’m saying, you should watch out for the crazy ones. They’re killers. Myra, though? She’s only a little crazy and probably not capable of murder.” Lawrence smirked.

    “Shut up.” I hissed, my eyes locking across the room.

    “Ignore him, you know he’s always wrong.” Stanly sighed.

    “No, guys. Do you see her?” I nudged them in the direction of the black haired woman leaning against the speakers on the stage.

    “Is that her?” Lawrence breathed.

    “Yeah...” I whispered.

    “So? Go ask her if she’s alright or something.” Stanly pushed me in her direction.

    “I should, right?” I shoved my hands in my pockets and rocked back on my heels.

    “Yes, i***t. Go!” Stanly sighed. 

    “This is a mistake, do not engage with her.” Lawrence hissed. “It’s clearly a weird s*x cult thing.” 

    Stanly and I both turned to him, perplexed. “Dude...” We said at the same time.

    “You can’t honestly think that there’s some weird s*x cult in bum-f**k-nowhere Alaska.” Stanly chuckled. “That’s just ridiculous.”

    “Stan’s right, Lawrence.” I shook my head. 

    “Then why are you still here talking to us? Why aren’t you over there with mystery girl?” He pitched his voice low and whispered dramatically, “Because you know I’m right and Stan’s wrong.”

    “I have no response to you. I’m walking away.” I shook my head and turned on my heel. Taking a deep breath, I started walking toward her. The mystery girl. The girl I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since I saw her stumble out of here, bloody and disoriented. Her head turned to me, her dark eyes locking on me from a few feet away. The blood red tinge in their depths stopped me in my tracks as knots tangled up my stomach. 

    “You.” She whispered. Me? Her back straightened, and for a second, it seemed like she was going to close the gap between us. Before either of us could move, a dark haired guy wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to the back hall. “Wait!” She called. Without thinking, I took off after them.

    “This is a mistake.” The man hissed under his breath, looming over her.

    “And it’s mine to make.” She quipped.

    “No... I won’t let you.” 

    “When did you get the idea that you can give me orders, Zeta?” The fight seemed to leave him with her words. 

    “Sorry to interrupt...” I murmured, stepping around the corner.

    “Go.” Her eyes never left the other man’s, and with a defeated sigh, he turned on his heel and stiff armed the back door.

    “Are you okay?” I asked hesitantly, afraid to move any closer. An intense power radiated off of her, rolling like waves through the air.

    Slowly, her gaze moved from the back door to my face. “Who are you?” She asked.

    “Nikolas. Nik. My friends call me Nik.” I stuttered.

    “Nik...” She drew it out like she was mulling it over, deciding if she liked it or not.

    “Uh, what’s your name?” I swallowed hard, wishing her scrutinizing gaze wasn’t so intense.

    “Why do you want to know?” She smiled darkly as she moved closer, almost like an animal stalking prey.

    “I saw you outside of here yesterday. You were covered in blood. Are you okay?” 

    “Hm, I suppose that would depend on your definition of okay, wouldn’t it?” She inhaled deeply, never losing her smile. “You smell delicious.” 

    “Thanks...” I whispered, my voice growing hoarse. This is weird, right? Why am I into this? “So, can I know your name?”

    She took one more confident step, closing any distance between us. “Haven.” She whispered in my ear. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

    She pulled back slowly, and I couldn’t help but stare. Her eyes were so dark, almost bottomless. Red sparks that caught the light were the only thing that kept me from falling into them completely. Her olive skin was smooth with little freckles dotting her face sporadically. “I was worried you were hurt.” I murmured, my voice shaking.

    “I was. I’m better now, though.” She smiled slowly, looking me up and down. “Much better.”

    “Ven.” A dark voice called from behind me. “Time to go.” A young guy that looked remarkably like her nodded his head to the door.

    “Not yet.” She practically hissed.

    “Now, Ven.” He barked.

    She turned her dark eyes to him, anger clouding her face. “Fine.” With a smile, she kissed me lightly on the cheek. “This won’t be the last time we meet, Nik.” She winked at me as she turned on her heel and followed the new guy out the back door.