gift of the gods

Texas

It had been seven years since the two children meet, leaving them almost inseparable. While Lucien trained with Rollin and his men. Fearing that Serena would never feel the same about him as he did about her, he trained night and day working on perfecting the techniques that he was being taught. By doing this, he would one day hope that he could be brave enough to ask out Serena, or strong enough, that if the day came, he could protect Serena. His fighting spirit never seemed to disappoint. Over the course of the time he was with Rollin, he was surpassing everyone except Rollin. Eventually, due to Lucien’s determination, he was able to match Rollin punch for punch, kick for kick. He eventually began learning how to kill, not only werewolves, but other creatures of the night as well. Rollin had grown proud of the young hunter he had raised and trained to protect not only his laws for the packs around the country but also the one person he knew they both loved dearly. However, Rollin did worry about the day when Lucien found out the truth behind the true nature of the ranch.

Lucien spent as much time with Serena as he possibly could, but he still didn’t know how she felt since that day in the bar back in Ohio. After seven years he eventually, worked up the courage to ask her out, but fate stepped in that night. It was the big day and Serena woke up excited for the night to finally get there. Looking at her clock to see it only read 7:00am, she groaned and got herself out of bed. If she was going to ready in time, she was going to need to start now. Walking to her door and poking her head out Serena looked around to make sure the cost was clear, and with a quick sniff of the air, she made double sure that no one was in the house. With a empty house she bolted to Lucien’s room down the hall. Making one last check, she made her way into his room and went straight for her objectives. Going for the shirt she knew he had wore the day before. Picking up the red and black flannel, she brought it to her nose to take a deep breath of his scent. Quickly running back to her room leaving nothing behind. Her first task was getting a shower, so she picked up her phone and picked out a playlist for the day only to see a text from her father.

Father

‘one day he’ll catch u doing that’

Serena

‘quit watching the cameras it’s weird and he won’t unless you tell him.‘

Father

‘my lips are sealed… just be careful tonight, the full moon is coming. ‘

Serena

‘I know father. ‘

Pushing play on the speaker and grabbing a black tank top and a pair of matching boy shorts for her choice of temporarily clothes and quickly jumped into the shower. Finishing her shower she got dressed adding Lucien’s flannel just as her favorite song from Halestorm.

‘Some like beautiful, perfect and pretty

I see the good in the bad and the ugly

I need the volume one louder than ten

Put the pedal to the metal needle into the red

If the windows ain’t shaking making my heart race

If I can’t feel it in my ches

I’m in the wrong damn place. ‘

Walking around her room listening to the song and feeling herself in a good mood she decided to start dancing. Not paying attention to the outside world the song flowed through Serena with each word.

‘Got a demon in my soul, and a voice in my head

Saying go, go, go, I can sleep when I’m dead

There’s a sonic revelation bringing me to my knees

And there’s a man down below that needs my sympathy

I got a ringin’ in my ears getting’ ready to burst

Screaming hallelujah mother fucker, take me to church’

After a long day of training with Rollin and whipping Adalwolf’s ass on the training field, Lucien smiled at the fact that he finally beat the man who taught him hand-to-hand combat. Rollin smiled, telling him that today’s session was complete. Lucien nods and heads off towards his room, to gather his clothes for a shower. He goes to grab his father’s flannel shirt and immediately notices it’s missing. He runs back Down to Rollin and Adalwolf.

“Have either of you seen my father’s flannel shirt? It’s the only thing I have left of him… its gone and I cant find it in my room.” Lucien was semi-panicking. “I always leave it on my nightstand. I don’t know where it went… fuck.”

Fuck was correct as Rollin and Adalwolf shoot a glance to each other. With the first shared thought between the two was, ‘do we risk snitching on your daughter and her killing us, or lie to Lucien and him killing us.’ Adalwolf thought to Rollin. As Rollin responded back through the same way.

‘uhm, honestly LIE! LIE, through your damn teeth do NOT rat Serena out we can tell what Lucien can do. However, that woman in that room would find a way to get back at us instead of killing us.’ With a nod the both of them agreed.

“Did you check with S..” just as the letter left his lips Rollin’s larger palm smacked the back of Adalwolf’s head. “s**t!” rubbing the back of his when Rollin shoot a thought to Adalwolf aggressively ‘Dude? What happened to the plan of keeping our skin!?’

Lucien, in the back of his mind, had some suspicions of what was going on. He brushed it off, as he went to turn to take off. “Thank you but I’ve got to find that shirt.” Still in a panic, Lucien ran off to his room. He tore his room apart looking for his flannel shirt. He hears the music and decides to ask Serena if she had seen it. He quietly and swiftly, as if he wasn’t even touching the floor, made his way to Serena’s room. He cracked open the door slightly, to find her dancing around while wearing his shirt. He stands in the doorway as he smiles and just watches her dance.

‘Don’t send me no angel

This city’s too cold

‘Cause I need a man with a black heart of gold

Whoa-oh-oh-ooh

Don’t give me no lover

If he ain’t got the stones

‘Cause I need a man who will fight for his own

Whoa-oh-oh-ooh’

Still not paying attention and never noticing Lucien standing in her door way Serena counties to dance around her room pulling her semi dry hair into a ponytail and singing with the song.

I’ve seen dark nights

Whoa-oh dark nights

But only the darkest light can deliver my love

Whoa-oh-oh-oh

I’ve seen dark nights

Whoa-oh dark nights

But only the darkest light can deliver my soul

Whoa-oh-oh-oh

Whoa-oh-oh-oh’

Turning around to be faced with a smiling Lucien filling her bedroom door. Freezing in her tracks with the sudden thought that either her father or Adalwolf ratted her out. ‘you both are so died!’ she yelled into their minds sending a chill through both the grown men. “Lucien…uhm.” Now awkward and confused Serena wiggled in her place “how long have you been there?”

Lucien smiled and walked inside the threshold. “long enough to see that you look amazing in my shirt. Besides, if you wanted to wear it, all you had to do was ask.” Lucien’s sapphire-blue eyes stared directly at her as he stood in place. “So, are we gonna address the elephant in the room?” he asks, her face turning as red as the flannel she had stolen.

“uhm… I…” stumbling with the words she tried to rush to him to push him out of her room only to trip on her own feet.

With reflexes that were almost reaver-like, Lucien catches Serena. He helps her to her feet before smiling. His heart pounded, as it raced, loud enough that Serena would hear it. He took her in his arms and throwing all reason out the window, he kissed her gently with all the passion burning in his heart for her. It seemed like minutes went by before he pulled back from the kiss, staring at her.

Her eyes went wide with the taste of his lips but her eyes fluttered closed, pushing deeper into the kiss before he pulled away leaving her breathless and beat red from ear to ear.

From behind the two a booming voice let out a victory cry. Sending Serena into a fit of rage. “get the hell out of here! If I catch you I’m going to skin you alive!” with quick thuds of two sets of boots running down the hall Serena slammed her door shut almost forgetting Lucien was behind her.

Lucien stood there as the door slammed shut, just shocked. He smiled softly. “um… so the elephant in the room has been acknowledged…” he turned red as he looked at her. He began to babble and stutter as he lost his train of thought, remembering she returned the kiss. All he could do was just stand there, his body shaking with anxiety. His nervousness caused him to pivot on his feet and make his way to the door, the way she reacted to her father, he was afraid how she’d react to him. He didn’t want to make things more awkward than what they are. He made his way to the door, his body shaking so bad, it caused him to fumble with the door handle.

“I’ve been doing this since you came here.” Spitting the words out with no thought she grabbed his hand pulling him back but never looking up from the ground. “please don’t go.” Almost a beg she held tightly to his hand afraid he would disappear.

Lucien turned back to face Serena, feeling the tight grip on his hand. His face was still red and a small smile came across his face. “If that is what you want… I will stay.” He took her into his arms, holding her close to him. He kissed the top of her head as he stood there, heart pounding wildly. “How long have you had the same feelings for me?” he asked, with a soft, gentle voice.

“since that night in the bar.” Feeling with dread and leaning into his arms. ‘we should tell him.’ She spoke to her father. Waiting for his response. The moment was ruin with Lucien’s phone blowing up.

Lucien slapped his pocket. But the incessant vibrating caused him to look at the phone. “Excuse me dear. Your father needs me stay here, it must be important if he’s blowing up my phone.” He kissed her gently, before taking off to find Rollin.

‘what’s going on?’ In a panic Serena called out to her father.

‘Vampire. Darling I need you to stay where your at, your still lacking the control for you blood lust.’ Her father replied with pissing her off at the truth behind his words. Pacing her room furious she couldn’t help, when suddenly fear rolled over her. “Lucien” His name slipped past her lips as a whisper.

Lucien, being a half reaver, heard his name but kept on his course to Rollin. “Rollin? Adalwolf? What’s going on?” He asked, as he drew his weapon. Lucien never revealed the true design of his blade, as he kept the wooden training scabbard locked in place. “Vampires!” Rollin replied simply. Vampires flooded the ranch, causing the men to scramble into their positions. “Rollin, I have a plan but I need you to follow my directions.”

With pride in his eyes the first thought was that the boy he picked up to run the Ranch by Serena’s side after he was gone. “You haven’t failed me yet, Don’t start now. Tell us what to do.” Rollin and Adalwolf pulled out their weapons of choice.

Lucien stood his ground at the main entrance. “Rollin, you and your men cover the right side of the house. Adalwolf, take your men and cover the left side of the house. You there, come here. You’re with me on the front. Accalia, take your men and cover the back of the house. Fan out, Fortress formation!” Lucien called out as the men followed his orders. The teams formed a circle around the house, creating a fortress of sorts. Waves upon waves of vampires crashed onto the circle, but were repelled every time. “Hold your ground. None shall break the circle.” He roared, followed by the circle roaring out in response.

Suddenly Rollin tensed up and grew panicked. “SERENA!” The booming voice yelled out a crossed the field ringing in Lucien’s ears. Fear struck him hard as the memories of his brother flooded his mind. Suddenly that same familiar voice that raised him the last seven years filled his mind. ‘go we can take care of it here! Just get to her.’ Not second guessing it he bolted for Serena’s room.

“Shouldn’t you be with the other’s?” Serena questioned the man entering her room locking the door behind him. Feeling uneasy Serena started to back away from him running her back against the wall.

“What will you do princess? Will you shift and risk your precious human toy finding out your cursed secret?” A wicked blood thirsty grin crossed his face with each step getting him closer and closer to her tell he finally had her pinned against the wall. “Or is it that you’ll let him die on the battle field with your father so you can have the throne?” Moving his face closer to her’s then down to the crock of her throat. “Or maybe I’ll just kill you now and all of you Odin fucker’s can be together.” A smirk covered his face as his lips touched her skin.

“Lucien.” Her voice cracked sending a chuckle through the man standing in front of her.

“Your human won’t save you now princess.” The words had just left his lips as Lucien battering rams his way through the door, shattering it into a hundred pieces. This causes the vampire to turn his attention to the now half-human, half-reaver standing in the doorway. “I should have known it was you, Eriksson, you reek of death. I should have killed you the first day you stepped foot on this ranch.” Lucien’s body began to take slight appearance changes as his teeth became shark-like, his skin pigment darkened, his ears pointed. “So the reaver finally shows his face. I’m not surprised by the fact that you’re little girl friend has a secret of her own. Why don’t you tell him princess. Your boyfriend is a reaver, why don’t you tell him what…” the vampire spoke.

Lucien growled as he drew the wooden sword. “keep your fanged mouth shut or I’ll gladly put this blade through your f*****g skull.”

“Lucien love look at me…” Serena begged for his attention. “His trying to make a fool of you don’t listen to him.”

Eriksson laughed. “says the one who’s pretending to an innocent human bystander. Boy if you only knew… you’re so blinded by love you cant see the truth. Why would an army of vampires attack a ranch if they were only humans.”

Lucien was now in a blind fury as he confronted Eriksson. Armed with nothing but the appearance of a training sword, Lucien took a fighting stance. The vampire laughed. “Don’t you know steaks don’t work on us?” Lucien grinned maniacally, as he disengaged the lock holding the wooden scabbard. The scabbard slid off the blade , hitting the ground with a soft thud. A bright, crimson-silver blade revealed itself.

“Don’t you know never to underestimate an opponent, You oversized, undead excuse for a blood bag.” Lucien’s words set Eriksson over the edge as he lunged for Lucien’s torso. With his reaver reflexes, Lucien parried the attack and ran the blade across the vampires back. The blade had been soaking in dead man’s blood, allowing it to fill the edges of the blade. The vampire wreathed in pain as the silver laced blood seeped into the wound.

“Silver with dead man’s blood, it’s a poison to you undead, fanged sons of bitches.”

The vampire, weakened, continued to put up a fight. Lucien gripped his blade with a warrior’s grip and screamed. “FOR VALHALLA!!” He charged the vampire, putting everything into a cleaving swing. The blade made contact with the vampires throat, and because of both Lucien’s and Eriksson’s momentum, the blade went through his neck with very little effort. Eriksson’s head rolled off Lucien’s blade as the body crumpled to the floor. Lucien took the head with him as he left. “At sunrise, open your curtains, the body will reduce to ash.” With that he was gone.

Lucien, covered in blood, returned to Rollin, depositing the head on the nearest surface. He walked out of the room, headed off to the washroom to shower. After that, Lucien’s rage died down and he spent the entire evening, all the way till the sun came up, training.