Instant Enemies

by Emily Zimmerman

  I heard his sigh. “Cat…I’m sorry, alright? I just felt betrayed. I felt lied to. You were able to tell Derik…but not your own best friend? I mean, how does someone deal with that?”

  I felt my anger heighten. “Well if you would have talked to me instead of jumping to conclusions I would have told you what really happened! Derik would have been the last person on earth to know about it, but he happened to find me walking home that day with blood all over me! I made him promise me that he’d never, ever, under any circumstances tell a soul. I didn’t want anyone to know about this because I was a stupid eleven year old girl. What, did you expect me to just walk up to you and say, ‘hey, I was raped yesterday, just so you know?’ That’s not how it works, Trevor.” And I disconnected.

  I was angry, not just angry, I was frustrated and having the forest around me was making Lorry anxious. She wanted to run. Screw running with a pack; I didn’t care if the vampires found me. I walked into the forest and stripped my clothes off, shifting into my wolf form. I shook out my dark red coat and sank my claws into the damp earth beneath me. I felt Lorry smile at the freedom. We took off running, both of us feeling exhilarated as the wind blew by.

  I ran until I reached a clearing and skidded to a stop, digging my claws into the ground to slow me down. It was a huge clearing, with a large hill. I trotted to the top of the hill and leisurely sank down on my haunches, watching as two, pure white birds landed in front of me and watched curiously. I leaned my head down close to one of the birds and sniffed at it. It surprised me that it didn’t fly away, it took my scrutiny bravely. I slowly cocked my head to the side and the bird mimicked my movement. Its pitch black eyes were more intelligent than I expected.

  The bird looked sharply behind me and flew away with a warning call to its companion, whom flew off with him. I spun around, just in time to be hit by a body. We went rolling down the hill, scratching, snarling, and biting at each other every chance we got. The vampire was strong, but I was stronger, when we rolled to a stop at the bottom of the hill, he bit into my neck and I howled in pain. I rolled on top of him and pinned him down with my paws, snarling in his face.

  “Stop, young one. Do not kill the boy.” The Wolven Goddesses voice echoed in my head and I blinked a few times.

  The vampires face turned from anger to realization, and then pleading. “Do not punish me, Wolven Goddess, for I did not know.” He begged.

  “I will not punish you, my son. You may go and tell your coven of what you’ve seen.” The words came out of my wolf mouth, the voice was mine, but the words weren’t.

  I slowly backed off of the vampire boy, and he sat up. He quickly scrambled to his feet and bowed from the waist. “Thank you, my dear mother.” He said quickly.

  The vampire scurried from the clearing, and I sat down to lick my wounds. But before I even lifted my bleeding paw, I was tackled again. I yelped in pain as I was pinned down by non-other than Damian.

  ‘Are you insane? You could have gotten yourself killed!’ he snarled through the bond.

  I wriggled a little bit and snarled at him. ‘I was fine!’

  ‘I swear if you weren’t my mate I’d-‘

  ‘You’d what? Outcast me? Tell me I was a fool and send me off like you did with Gabriel?’ I snapped.

  His gaze darkened. ‘How did you know about that?’

  ‘You can’t keep everything from me, Damian. I’m not stupid.” I pushed him off of me and got up, shaking myself off. “I met him at the beach. He told me about your little…confrontation.’ I said.

  I trotted up the hill, wincing as pain shot through my healing paw, causing a small limp. ‘That was necessary, I had to assert dominance, he called me an incompetent Alpha.’

  ‘Yeah, well did you ever stop to think maybe he was right?’ I asked without turning.

  He didn’t answer.

  I stopped and turned to look at him. And he stared at me with unreadable eyes. ‘Every day.’ He whispered.

  This shocked me. I hadn’t meant for my words to be so harsh, and it seemed I’d struck a nerve. ‘Listen, I didn’t mean that. I-I’m sorry. I have to go.’ I muttered.

  I turned away from him and took off up the hill, running to the other side and into the forest where my clothes hung from a branch. I shifted and slipped my clothes on, wincing as the gash on my wrist healed the rest of the way, a healing wound hurts like hell. The bite marks on my neck healed a while ago.

  I walked out of the forest just as Riley came speeding down the road. He skidded to a stop after zooming passed me and jumped out of the car. “What are you doing out here?” he asked me.

  “I couldn’t stay at the house.” I shrugged.

  “You have dirt on your face and arms.” He said suspiciously.

  “My wolf wanted to run…and I kind of got attacked by a vampire-“

  “What?” he yelled.

  “I’ll tell you later, can we just go home?” I asked him pleadingly.

  His lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded. “Fine.”

  He walked me to the car and opened the door for me. I thanked him and jumped in. Riley was walking around the car when his phone rang. He gave me the one minute sign when he answered. I sighed and opened the sun shade, planning to check my face in the mirror. I grimaced; it looked like someone threw mud in my face. I couldn’t imagine what my legs looked like.

  My hair was tangled and messy. I sighed, searching through Riley’s glove compartment for the brush I knew he had. The boy cared more for his hair than he did his own life.

  “Ah-ha!” I exclaimed when I found it, buried at the back.

  I looked back up at the mirror and yelped as a face came into view behind me. “Hello dear. I just had to see for myself. My son was so excited that he had to be telling the truth. It seems he was.” The vampire was hiding it’s scent. How it got into the car without me hearing it was beyond me.

  “So you’re going to leave my pack alone?” I asked him, my voice and eyes guarded.

  “Ah, yes, you see it’s more complicated than that, dear Goddess. They killed my daughter. She was the only female I had left in the coven, and now, I’m afraid, I must get my revenge.”

  I spun around in my seat to look at him, but he was nowhere to be seen. The driver’s side door slamming shut startled me and I looked at Riley. He cocked his head to the side at my expression.

  “What’s wrong, sis?” he asked me.

  “I-I…nothing.” I mumbled.

  I looked in the mirror, just to make sure, but he wasn’t there either. I ran the brush through my hair, staring at the mirror in thoughtful silence as I did.

  I got home and practically fell on the couch, groaning in relief at the beautiful, comfortable leather. Mom and dad were gone, and Riley told me he had to so see Lily, so I was home alone, and I couldn’t be happier. I haven’t been alone in a long time, and sometimes, both Lorry and I craved alone time.

  I closed my eyes and started humming a song that my mom used to sing to me when I was little. These Little Dreams is what she called it. She played the piano for a while and loved to compose her own songs. I’d sit beside her while she composed them, and she’d teach me how to play them…

  I was dragged awake by my alarm clock, and I groaned. I threw my pillow over my head to drown out the sound, and sighed when it didn’t work. I slammed my hand down on the snooze button and smiled slightly at the silence that emanated through the room. A knock sounded at my door. “Sweetheart, it’s about time for school.” Mom said.

  I groaned and started beating myself in the face with my pillow. “No! school can die a horrible death for all I care!” I exclaimed.

  I heard her soft laugh as it faded down the hall. I sat up and immediately pulled my hair back, tying it up with the hair band around my wrist. I jumped from the bed and walked into my closet, humming happily to myself as I unconsciously went for my tom boy clothes. A hand caught my wrist just before I touched the shirt.

  “What did I say about that?” Damian’
s voice was dark and playfully threatening in my ear.

  I turned and glared at him. “I’m not your slave, and I can wear what I want.” I insisted, trying to remove my hand from his grasp, it only tightened.

  “As I recall, that was an order.” He smirked.

  I growled and ripped my wrist from his grasp. “Fine. Get out so I can change.” I ordered.

  He smiled, touched his hand to his forehead and brought it down in two swirls, bowing slightly from the waist. “As you wish, my love.”

  I waited until I was sure he left before smiling an evil smile. He wants me to dress like a girl? Fine then, I'll dress like a girl.

  I grabbed a short black skirt from the shelf above the hanging rod, it reached about mid-thigh and it was something I wouldn’t have touched with a ten foot pole…until now, that is. I put on a low cut, white shirt that was so see-through it needed an undershirt, and to top it all off, a pair of black, leather, knee high boots.

  I poked my head out of the closet door, making sure Damian wasn’t in the room, before flouncing out. I sat down at my vanity and picked up my eye shadow, brushing on a smoky eye look with perfect precision. I put on some black eyeliner and mascara, shouldered my bag, and sashayed out of the room. The blinds were open all over the house, bright, golden light filtering in. Mom had a duster in her hand, humming beautifully to herself as she swept gracefully by.

  “Going on a cleaning spree, mom?” I asked her as I grabbed an apple.

  “The house is a mess! And it’s almost spring, spring cleaning is very important.” She said.

  I smiled and rolled my eyes. The house wasn’t at all dirty, every nook and cranny was spotless. Mom actually looked at me for the first time. “Goodness me! You look like those girls you always talk about…what do you call them?” she asked me.

  “A slut?” I asked hopefully.

  “No…a tramp, that was what you called them.” She said.

  Damn. Tramps weren’t as bad as sluts, I was planning on making Damian angry, I guess this would have to suffice. I shot mom a salute and headed out the door, Riley must have stayed over at the pack house; I didn’t see his car. I did see a sleek, black, sexy-looking motorcycle sitting in front of the house, Damian leaned on my car.

  “What the hell are you wearing?” he asked incredulously as I approached.

  I gave him a fake pout. “You wanted me to dress like a girl, remember?” I asked him, running the tips of my fingers across his chest as I passed.

  He growled and his eyes flashed black for a split second before he gained control again. “I didn’t mean dress like that!” he growled.

  I batted my eyelashes at him and blew him a kiss as I got in the car. “See you at school, my love.” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

  I slammed my door closed, slid the key in the engine and smiled as it roared at me. I sped away from the curb, leaving Damian standing there.

  I laughed maniacally and turned the radio on. Best. Day. Ever.

  Part Eleven: Who?

  I pulled into the school parking lot, expecting to have a lot of stares today with what my outfit looked like. I suddenly felt a little regretful about what I was wearing. I’d meant to make Damian mad, I didn’t want men groping me every chance they got, and they probably would.

  I took a deep breath and got out of the car, opening the back door so I could get my bag. A few jocks walking by whistled, some did this weird man bark. I ignored them all and walked up to the school. “Cat I needed- what the hell are you wearing?” Trevor half yelled, stopping me as I reached my locker.

  “I’m trying to make Damian mad. It’s a long story and I’d rather not repeat it.” I muttered.

  “You look like a slut!” he was whispering loudly now.

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s the point dumbass.”

  “Fine. Anyway I need to talk to you.” He said.

  “I don’t want to talk.” I said, grabbing my books from my locker and slamming it shut.

  “Well I do.” He grabbed me by the arm as I turned to leave. “Would you please just listen?”

  I crossed my arms and leaned against one of the lockers, waiting impatiently. “I’m sorry, alright? I felt betrayed, but I was stupid about it, I was angry at you.” He sighed. “You remember when we went to the beach that time, we threw each other in the water, and we were so tired afterwards that we just laid in the sand staring up at the sky for a while?” he asked me.

  This brought a small smile to my lips. “You told me to promise you that we would be best friends forever, that we would tell each other everything, and that nothing could break us apart.” I murmured.

  “I partially broke that promise, I let something break us apart.” He said softly.

  “And I kind of broke that promise before I even agreed. I’m sorry Trevor, I couldn’t tell you.” I mumbled.

  The bell rang before he could answer and I sighed. “See you in History.” I said.

  Damian caught up with me just as I was grabbing the door handle to science class. He grabbed me by the arm, his eyes were dark and his muscles were tense under his black, tight shirt.

  “You’re either going to change willingly, or I’m going to make you.” he growled.

  I smiled sweetly. “Whatever do you mean, Damian? I’m just dressing the way you asked me to dress.” I said innocently.

  I pushed the door to my class open and heard a lot of whistling, and Damian growl. I ignored them all and sashayed over to my desk, sitting down and crossing my legs. Damian sat gracefully down beside me, still angry.

  “When I asked you to dress like a girl I didn’t mean like a slut girl!” he whispered to me.

  “Oh so you asked me now? I could have sworn you ordered me!” I snapped in a whisper.

  “I’m not kidding, Cat, I want you to change.” He growled.

  “Sorry, can’t do that.” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in my chair.

  His fists clenched and he growled low in his throat. “Why. Not?” he asked me slowly.

  “I don’t have anything to change into.” I said simply.

  Before he could answer, Mrs. Laurence came in and she smiled at the class. “Hello class.” She looked at Damian. “Damian.” She said by way of greeting.

  I rolled my eyes. She’d been flirting with Damian since he came here. “Hello Mrs. Laurence.” Damian nodded politely, taking my hand atop the table for everyone to see. I ripped my hand from his. I wasn’t being very friendly to him right now. “Now class, the school has enacted a new role call system. Basically, if your name is on this clip board in my hand, I call it, if you don’t answer; you’re deemed absent, got it?” She said.

  She started calling names, it was in alphabetical order, so I was the fifth called. I was busy arguing with Damian, so I didn’t hear her the first time.

  “Ms. Harington!” she slammed her fist on the counter in front of me.

  I jumped and looked up at her. “Yeah?”

  “Will you please tell me you’re here so I can get on with this stupid assignment and start the class?” She said in a tightly controlled voice.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Here,” I quipped.

  She smiled and went on calling names. I rolled my eyes and leaned back, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. “You can borrow clothes from Lily.” He growled at me under his breath.

  “Fine, will it make you happy?” I asked him in an angry voice.

  “Yes, very much so.”

  On my way to history, Trevor and Melody caught up with me. “What’s with the outfit?” Melody asked me.

  “Damian made me angry, so I decided to make him angry.” I shrugged.

  Melody smiled. “You guys go at it like cats and dogs.” She muttered.

  “Hey Melody, you wouldn’t happen to have some clothes I could change into, would you?” I asked her.

  She handed me her back pack. “I always have an extra for emergencies.”

  “Thanks Mel!” I called, running for the bathroom.
<
br />   I pulled out some skinny jeans and an off the shoulder lace shirt that came with a white undershirt. I was glad my boots would match the outfit.

  I was just pulling my the shirt on when the bell rang and I sighed. I grabbed Melody’s backpack and my backpack and stepped out of the bathroom. “Hey.” Melody said, getting up from her place by the door.

  “Hi, here’s your bag, and you can have those stupid clothes, I do not even want to look at them.” I said.