Cursed by Fate (COMPLETE)

Chapter Eighteen

No one seemed to be very happy about Elias’s quick return. Even I was on guard. No one could do such a complete turn around so quickly. But if I were to believe his story, the potential of losing me and me pointing out his asshole behavior is what made him change. Well he didn’t really change. He admitted both were him. The asshole I knew so well and the one who seemed wiser and more understanding. That’s the one I wanted to get to know. The one who was kind. Who wants to learn about me, talk to me. 

Then when it comes to the asshole side of him. I wanted to see that part when or if we were ever in danger. I wanted to see his protective side, the side of him that will stand up for me and not try to possess me. No, I didn’t like his asshole side. But we all had one. Even me. Though I really didn’t like showing it. I wonder if my vampire will bring it out of me more. Will my werewolf bring out another side of me I didn’t know about?

“Do you want to go to town today?” Lance asked me. “We can all go and have lunch, that way you don’t have to cook for everyone.” 

“Yes, please.” I groaned. “I do not want to cook that much for lunch and again for dinner. Just because I know how to cook does mean I like to. I got way too spoiled having a cook back home.” 

“You had a cook?” Lance questioned with a furrowed brow. 

“You said you knew the Legend family.” I argued. 

“Just because we knew them don’t mean we know their finances, Nicole.” Lance replied. 

“Fair enough. Yes, we had a cook. We, I mean I. Am pretty well off. Let’s just leave it at that please.”

Lance nodded, his eyes searching mine for a moment before turning to the two other men in the room. “Malachi will want to supervise. He has grown quite attached to Nicole in the past month and won’t take any chances with her with both of you here now. Especially you.” Lance said pointing at Elias. 

“I won’t hurt her.” He sneered. “I never would have. I just didn’t want to share her. Didn’t want her around him.” He pointed to Mathias. “I never lied to her. I was actually the one who told her the truth in the first place. If she had given me a chance without running I would have told her about me.”

“Well if you hadn’t been stalking me, I may have given you the chance.”  I retort, crossing my arms over my chest. 

“You see it as stalking Nicole.” Elias said with a sigh. “But I saw it as protecting. How could I keep an eye on you and protect you unless you were actually within eye shot?” 

My jaw dropped and my brows reached my hairline. “You were? Why? Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“Because you hadn’t shifted yet. And you wouldn’t have known. I knew from the moment I saw your application for the university. And for the fact no one has ever been drawn to our university. Mortals would be deterred from our university with just one look.” 

“Why?”

“Because, it is spelled to look dilapidated and condemned. If you saw it for what it was then you had to be like us, so you were immediately accepted. There aren’t many like us anymore. Vampires have become rare. Hunters have taken to hunting our kind close to extinction. The only reason our town has survived is because the surrounding county protects us.” Elias informed me. 

“But I don’t understand. Why would they hunt us? Why kill all of us off? Are werewolves hunted too?” I asked, turning to Lance. 

“Unfortunately yes.” He sighed. “Though not nearly to the point vampires have been. Werewolves can blend better into human society than vampires can. Though werewolves have superior genes that make us stronger, faster, bigger and even makes us more appealing, we can still blend better. Vampire genes as much as it pains me to admit out does even werewolves. They are stronger and faster than we are. And are made more beautiful, flawless even to draw in humans. That’s how they feed. Their looks are like a sirens call to mortals.” 

I looked at myself, then back to them. “But no one has ever shown any interest in me until all of you.” I argued. 

“Your vampire also hasn’t made herself known yet.” Elias pointed out. “When it’s time she will merge with you. It’s not like werewolves where you have another soul connected to you. Your vampire becomes you and you her. It’s not something you can shift in and out of like a werewolf, she is always there. She is you, all her appearance does is give you your fangs, your craving and need to feed. She gives you your speed and strength. And also adds to the beauty you already possess.” 

“Okay.” I drawl. “So what do you mean my werewolf is another soul?” 

“Your werewolf is another being, another soul inside you. She will be your constant companion, a friend you will always have and can count on. She can speak to you and you to her. She will help you, lead you and guide you.” Lance told me. 

“That sounds kind of..uh..invasive.” I admitted. “Like an invasion of privacy.” 

Lance laughed. “She has always been there, Nicole. She has just been unable to communicate with you. When you turn twenty and shift is when she will finally be able to reach you. I assure you, you will love having her with you.” 

“If you say so.” I said unsure. “Will she have a name, or go by mine?”

“As I said, she is her own soul, her own being. She will have a name and her own personality. And you will clash and disagree at times.” He admitted. 

“Great.” I muttered. “Just what I need. Another personality within me to argue with. As if I didn’t feel crazy enough.” 

“What’s your wolf’s name Lance?” I asked. 

“Thorne.” 

“And you Mathias?” I asked. 

“Ren.” 

I nodded. They sounded like strong names, names that suited them. I wonder what her name will be, my wolf. And I still couldn’t get over the curiosity of what her color would be. Not that it really mattered. I’ve always loved wolves, always thought they were beautiful. I did wonder about that black wolf though, the one I saw in the woods back home. It was large, much like Mathias and Lance. And its unusual blue eyes. Was it a werewolf? 

“Mathias?” 

“Hmm?”

“There was a wolf back home. One I was desperate to get a photo of. I finally did, but this was before everything happened. But now, I wonder if it was a werewolf. It was practically as large as you and Lance, it was black with piercing blue eyes.” 

“Did you get the photo?” He asked. 

“Well yes, I did.” I admitted. “It looked right at me while I took it.” 

“Can I see?” 

“Uh, give me a minute.” I said holding a finger up. 

I ran upstairs to my room and stood there for a minute trying to remember where I put my portfolio. I know I brought it, I wouldn’t leave it. Oh, I remember. I rushed over to the closet and ruffled through my photo bag for a minute before I found it. I smiled. This was my master portfolio. It had all the pictures I’d ever taken in it. I’d never shown it to anyone, not even my friends back home. 

“Here it is.” I huffed, rushing down the stair. However I tripped on the way down. My eyes went wide and a scream tore from my throat. But before I could actually fall, time seemed to slow down. Everyone around me was moving in slow motion as they moved towards me. 

I easily caught myself on the banister righting myself, but was confused as to what was happening. What was going on? I walked down the stairs and circled around my guys, eyeing them up and down as they continued their slow motion running to the stairs. It was actually amusing when you stopped to think about it. It kind of felt like being in the Matrix. 

But before I could study them too much, time seemed to right itself and the guys were away from me and at the stairs. The confusion on their faces was hilarious. 

“Over here.” I said, waving my hand. 

“What? How?” Lance questioned walking over to me. 

I shrugged. “I don’t know. When I tripped, it was like time slowed down. It was easy for me to catch myself and walk down the stairs to all of you. But it wasn’t until just now that time righted itself.” 

Mathias looked over to Elias with wide eyes. 

“Nicole. Time manipulation isn’t normal for a fledgling.” Elias said lowly. “Time manipulation is a master vampire ability. Something a master vampire spends hundreds of years trying to master and even then it’s not perfect. And you just did it by accident.” 

“Okay?” 

“You don’t understand Nicole. You shouldn’t be able to do that.”

“And yet I can. So what does that mean?” I asked. 

“I don’t know.” He admitted. “A true master vampire hasn’t been around for a very long time. If you are a master vampire when you change your eyes will no longer be gold, they will turn violet. The color is how vampires know who the master is. And a master vampire is the leader of the coven. 

But since there has been no master vampire in so long all covens have merged into one large one. We have united inorder to protect ourselves. We have more of a council now, representatives. If you truly are a master, then you will be the master of the coven, our leader.” 

“Uh. I really don’t see how that’s going to work with me being part werewolf.” I argue. 

“They won’t have a choice. The master vampire can control other vampires with one command. Think of it like the alpha of a werewolf pack, except vampires can not turn on their master, can not challenge them. They have no choice but to follow you. No vampire is a match for the master, even a newly changed one.” Mathias put in. 

“And if I am this master. I don’t know what I’m doing. How would it work?” 

“Well. The master is considered vampire royalty, you can lead from wherever you want, but there is a palace where our main city is in South Dakota. And from there you can appoint your own council to help guide you.”

“Yeah, no. I will go back home to West Virginia to my mini castle if I have to. And on the other point, I know no other vampires other than you and Mathias. And I don’t think that would be comfortable considering the situation we are in.” 

“Despite the situation, being on the master vampires council is considered a great honor in our world.” Elias said. “No vampire in their right mind would pass the opportunity up. And with us in the council you know you would always be protected even if you don’t choose one of us.” 

“I don’t know. Why don’t we just wait and see where everything goes on my birthday.” I suggested. “For now, let's go get Lunch, I’m famished.” I whine

“Okay, come on love.” Mathias chuckled, walking me outside.

“We can take my truck. Though the others will have to ride in the back.” Lance said, eyeing them. 

“Fine with me.” Mathias shrugged, jumping into the back of the truck. 

I shook my head, while Elias just sighed while he lithely bound into the back and stood, leaning against the back of the cab. 

“Uh, Elias. Are you sure you want to stand like that?” I asked worriedly. 

“Worried rosa mea?” He purred

“Honestly? Yes, a little.” 

Elias leaned forward until he was inches away and smiled. “Don’t worry, Rosa, I’ll be fine.” 

“Okay.” I mumbled, climbing into the cab beside Lance. And despite Elias’s d**k behavior the whole way into town I couldn’t help but keep glancing back to make sure he was alright.