Scarlet Dawn

by Megan J. Parker

  “It’s fine. Really! We just got chased by a few girls on the road,” Axle smiled reassuringly.

  “Psh! They weren’t just girls!” Tristan beamed, “Clan warriors, Sierra! And we left them in the dust!”

  Shayne smirked and nodded, “Oh man! Just thinking about that blue haired one is making my pants tighter! Oh god, the things I’d do!”

  “Shut it! Both of you!” Axle glared as Sierra’s cheeks turn bright pink. “You”—he pointed at Tristan—“learn to keep your mouth shut with pointless details. And you”—his finger shifted to Shayne—“the next time you talk like that in front of a lady I’m going to walk away with your teeth in my fist! Both of you got it?” The two nodded solemnly, “Good! Now take Fang and get out of here!”

  As the two were escorted down the stairs by the young vampire, Axle fought the urge to laugh as he heard, “Wow! He really told you, huh? I bit Elrik today…”

  Sierra was shaking by the time Axle turned back to her. “Axle…” Her voice was a panicked whisper, “I-is that true? Were warriors after you?”

  Axle sighed, “It… it is true, but they only saw me and they lost control of their car back on the highway. They don’t know who the others are and they don’t know about this place.”

  “B-but what about you?” Sierra’s lower lip started to quake.

  “They lucked out with finding me this time; probably a slow night in the neighborhood and they picked up on my aura and decided to investigate. They probably don’t even know who I am. Nobody even knows I’m here! As long as I keep under their radar then they’ll never have a reason to look.”

  Sierra bit her lip and looked between him and Drake, “A-are you sure?”

  Axle nodded and smiled, “Worst case: they bring me in—and me alone—on a few minor charges. No execution; just some served time or community service work. In the meantime, Drake can take my place and keep you and the kids safe and supplied.”

  Drake nodded, knowing Sierra just as well as Axle. “Until we know for sure how these warriors will respond to tonight, we’ll keep our ears to the ground and stay out of the city. The next town is just a bit further out, so we can target a few of the smaller sites there to avoid heavy security and any added attention until we’re sure this has all blown over.”

  “What did the other girl look like? You said one had blue hair, what did the other one look like?” Sierra frowned.

  “Some platinum-blonde pit-viper of a vampire with purple eyes,” Axle shrugged.

  “You remember her eye color, Axle? I never remember anything like that!” Quinn grinned, “Has someone finally caught your eye?”

  “Shut up,” Axle rolled his eyes and looked at Sierra, “Why ask what she looked like?”

  Sierra frowned, “That’s Serena Vailean, the new leader of Clan of Vail. Please be careful around her, Axle; from what I’ve heard she’s not one to be trifled with. She’s still new to The Council’s policies, so she’s prone to aggressive and reckless behavior.”

  Axle nodded, “That certainly sounds like what we saw.”

  “Yea! She was a real bitch!” Quinn smirked.

  “Language!” Sierra hissed at him, “I don’t need the kids to hear those kinds of words. Things are rowdy enough around here.”

  “Sorry, Miss Sierra,” Quinn pouted.

  Axle looked over, startled by the sudden shift in Quinn’s tone. It was moments like that that made him realize how young his comrade still was.

  “Anyway, we’ve got to head back for the night,” Axle sighed. “There’s been a lot of activity at the subway and we don’t want someone else staking claim to our turf.”

  “You can always come back here, Axle. You know you are always welcome here,” Sierra frowned. “And I’d feel better if you guys weren’t sleeping the streets at night after working so hard for us.”

  Axle shook his head, “We couldn’t do that to you. It wouldn’t be safe for the orphanage. As certain as I am that nobody knows we’re here, I’d rather not take a chance with so much at stake.” Axle smirked, “Besides, it’s actually pretty cozy!”

  Sierra rolled her eyes at that and Axle smirked before he nodded to the others to give them a moment.

  “Bye, guys,” Sierra waved to them, “Thanks again.”

  Lucas blushed and stammered his farewells.

  Drake nodded back and herded the two down the stairs to join the others.

  Sierra bit her lip and looked up at Axle, “About that Serena girl…”

  “Look, don’t let her concern you. Aggressive or not, she’s just like any other clan warrior.”

  “I don’t mean about the warrior part,” Sierra bit her lip.

  Axle frowned, “What then?”

  “About what Quinn said…” She blushed.

  “What Quinn…” Axle’s shoulders dropped with realization and he shook his head, “Oh god, Sierra! No. No! It’s nothing like that! I just haven’t told Quinn about you and me; he’s still got some puppy-dog crush on you and I don’t want to start any tension that could impact us on the—”

  “Then you didn’t find her attractive?” Sierra frowned up at him.

  It was Axle’s turn to blush. “I… I mean, I guess. If you’re into that sort of thing, I mean, but… like, I wouldn’t—y’know—personally, and all—”

  Sierra giggled, “You always were a bad liar.” She sighed and shrugged a shoulder, “It’s fine, though. I hear she’s very beautiful, and there’s no harm in looking, right? I mean, I look too.”

  “You do?” Axle raised an eyebrow.

  “Mmhm. All the time,” she giggled and swayed her hips in a brief tease, “Like that Shayne guy, for example.”

  A growl slipped from Axle’s throat, “Shayne? That vulgar little pervert—”

  Sierra giggled and pressed a finger to his lips, “Shhh. I was just teasing. I just don’t like being alone in my jealousy.”

  Axle blushed at being caught and nodded, “Alright. That’s fair. You got me.” He paused, looking at her and wondering if he should take her up on the offer to stay. Finally, he took a deep breath and pulled her into a hug, “We’ll be back soon with more. I promise. If something happens, you know how to reach me, and don’t hesitate this time.”

  “I won’t. And thank you.”

  “You don’t ever have to thank me for this,” Axle scolded her. “Though I will take a goodbye kiss if you’re offering.”

  “Hmm… I don’t know. Have you been a good boy?” She offered a coy grin.

  “As good as a guy who steals from the rich to feed the poor can be, I suppose,” Axle offered with a smile. “And speaking of stealing…”

  With that, he swooped down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

  Sierra gasped at the startling-yet-welcomed onslaught and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to deepen the kiss as she pressed her tongue to his. The sounds of her moans pushed Axle forward and he ground his hips between her legs. Gasping, Sierra wrapped her legs around his waist and she shivered as his hardening assets pressed to her core.

  Realizing that they were nearing the point of no return, the two fought to tear themselves away from one another. Still panting from the effects of their passion, the two gazed at the one another as they willed their pounding hearts to calm.

  “Someday…” Axle nodded, straightening himself, “Someday it’ll be different for us. I promise.” He ran his thumb across her swollen bottom lip and smiled as she nipped at his thumb.

  “I know. I await the day,” she smiled happily. “You’d better get back to the group before they begin to suspect the worse.”

  Axle rolled his eyes, “I’m sure Shayne’s already telling some pretty tall tales in my absence.”

  “Then you’d better hurry before the tales get taller,” Sierra offered.

  Axle sighed, “You’re probably right. Even your innocent words are beginning to heat my core.” He offered her another quick kiss before forcing himself to turn away, “Until next time, Miss Sierra.�
��

  “Yes,” Sierra sighed. “Until next time.”

  Starting down the steps, Axle spotted Drake waiting for him.

  “I take it from the look on your face that Sierra and you had a little alone time again, huh?” Drake raised an eyebrow.

  “Don’t act so surprised,” Axle frowned, “You… you didn’t tell the others, did you?”

  Drake rolled his eyes, “Like I’m sure they can’t figure it out for themselves. But no, I didn’t say anything.”

  Axle nodded his thanks, “You’re a good friend.” He sighed, “Someday, Drake. Someday I am going to buy her a ring!” He smiled, “Once we get enough money, I can help set the orphanage to be a nicer place and Sierra and I can finally be together.”

  “Axle… are you sure you want to put Sierra in that kind of danger?” Drake frowned, “You’ve amassed quite a reputation; earned quite a bit of enemies. You could risk putting her in a dangerous spotlight for those who’d want to get to you? And you know that she’s not strong enough to stop them; she’s not a fighter, and you’d be forcing yourself to always be a bodyguard first and a lover second.”

  “That’s why I’m waiting,” Axle looked down. “I won’t ask her until I know that I’m free from that life. You know I wouldn’t do anything to endanger her or the kids.”

  Drake sighed and nodded, “Well, I guess all we can do is hop, and I do hope for the best. I truly do. She definitely could use someone like you.”

  “I’m glad you think so,” Axle laughed, starting towards the car to join the others.

  Axle had gotten into the habit of parking the car several blocks down from the entrance to the subway, and though none in the group were unable to walk the distance it was clear that, though the body was willing, their minds weren’t happy that their rest was being delayed.

  All but Axle, who could still feel the electricity from Sierra’s kiss racing through his veins. Stretching his joints, he looked around the others as they shuffled down the sidewalk; a wide grin growing as his therion instincts began to pull at him and he turned to the others.

  “I’m going for a run. Drake, you want to join?”

  “Nah. I’m going to pass out as soon as I get to my bed.” He smirked, “Besides, as tired as I am, you’re too slow for me when we run together.”

  Axle scoffed, “Sure, whatever you say!”

  The others grumbled, wondering out loud how anybody who’d had the kind of night they’d had could have enough energy to even think about running.

  Falling back, he watched as the five walked off into the subway and he sighed, about to pull off his shirt when he suddenly froze—hearing a rustling of movement—and narrowed his eyes in the direction of an alleyway across the street.

  “Whoever you are, step out now!” He snarled. Almost instantly the tall, lean female stepped out and he let out a relaxed sigh, recognizing her instantly from her dark hazel eyes and short black hair. “Oh. It’s just you,” he turned his back to her as he finished pulling off his shirt. “Will you leave me alone already? I already told you: I’m not interested. Can’t you just get the point and move on with whatever life you have?”

  “Come now, that’s not fair,” the woman’s voice was just as toxic as her scent. “This time I have a proposition for you. Please just hear me out.”

  He shivered at her voice and growled, turning to face her again, “Look, I’m not interested!”

  “I just thought that—since you’ve clearly got something important that you’re trying to do and have something of a law-problem—we could maybe help one another.”

  “If you think I’m giving you any of our earnings then you’re crazy! Plus, I don’t need your help. I’ve been able to do everything on my own already, what makes you think I’d need you?” He sneered.

  “Well for starters” she glared at him, her purposeful stride driving her ever-nearer, “we can get this ‘I’ bullshit out of the way! While I appreciate a man who’s willing to cover for his team, I think it more than insults our mutual intelligence to carry on such a ludicrous facade! Then there’s the little matter of my fee: there is none! I don’t want any of your so-called ‘earnings’—though I feel the implications are rather preposterous given that they imply that you deserve any of what you’ve taken—nor do I think you’re in a position to turn down my help considering the precariousness of your particular situation. What I’m offering you is protection—both from the preservers of the law as well as the breakers of it—and what I’m asking is for your participation.”

  Axle frowned and shook his head, “I’m not going to pretend to have understood half of the words you just said, Miss Thesaurus, but if what you’re offering is real then what sort of participation are you expecting?”

  The woman shrugged, “Every clan needs its members, right; its warriors?”

  “You… you’re a clan leader?” Axle frowned.

  “You can’t lead a clan of one,” the woman chortled, “Which is where your participation becomes somewhat imperative to the process. You and I and the rest of your little group can be the beginning of something new; something that can—and will—take your little Vail problem out of commission. Wouldn’t you agree that making supply runs to your little nursery would be easier with some actual support on your side? Wouldn’t you agree that having your own clan to back you up would make things so much easier for your little girlfriend? Just think of it: a clean record from The Council, and enough power and strength to protect yourself, your crew, your lady, and all those little ones with no real home? Isn’t that worth, at the very least, a moment of your time?”

  “The jobs I take aren’t exactly Council approved, what makes you think they’d agree for your clan to do these jobs?” Axle narrowed his eyes.

  “I’m afraid that my willingness to sway your skepticism just ran dry. Now, you either take me up on my offer or I find somebody else who will! This is the final time I’ll extend to you this offer,” she frowned. “Make your decision.”

  Axle frowned, “My only chance?”

  The woman nodded, “The choice is yours.”

  “Good. My answer is still ‘no’, so I guess this is the last time I’ll have to say it, and none-too-fucking-soon either! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going on a run.”

  “Ugh! You stubborn little mongrel! You will regret this decision! I promise!”

  He watched as she spun on her heel and stomped off down the street, unable to hold back a laugh as she stumbled on the curb.

  “Stupid bitch,” Axle shook his head. “Must think I was born yesterday if she thinks I’d buy that much rubbish just because she talks like a damn dictionary!”

  Sighing, he ducked into the alleyway to finish undressing and focused on allowing the transformation to grab hold of him. As his body shook and shifted with the excruciatingly liberating process, he gripped a nearby dumpster to keep his body upright. Breaking free of the confines of his human form, he let out a triumphant howl before he rushed towards the concrete wall in front of him and began a full sprint up the side. As his vertical climb lost momentum, he vaulted to the neighboring wall behind him—pivoting in midair to meet it head-on—and then repeating the act again and again until he’d reached the rooftops. Feeling the blood coursing through his veins like gasoline running through a V8 engine, he started across the blacktop, throwing himself over generator and in a forward summersault before landing in a tucked-roll that carried him back to his feet and an even more momentous sprint.

  The humans were a clumsy and foolish lot…

  But whoever had developed parkour had had the right idea!

  This was the only way to run!

  And while the bulk of his species enjoyed nothing more than ducking and weaving through the trees and brush of their natural habitat, there was no denying the potential thrill to be had in the urban jungle!

  After the night’s ordeal, Serena and Zoey had finally made it back to the clan. Ever since the original headquarters that had been Serena’s childhood h
ome had been destroyed, they’d been forced to relocate. Fortunately, Serena’s father had gone to great lengths to construct a secret underground facility in the event of an attack, and though the decision had been seen as somewhat unconventional, this bunker had been successfully expanded upon to allow for not only all the necessities and conveniences that they’d come to know, but an eerily vast sense of security.

  After all, who would think to look for a complex clan of non-humans beneath a dense forest?

  Isaac, already waiting at the entrance, hurried to Zoey’s side and began to look her over. Serena sighed, rolling her eyes as Zoey’s therion lover scrutinized over every bump and scratch.

  “Really? We’re only an hour late, for fuck’s sake! She’s fine,” Serena chuckled. “No need to get your panties in a twist. Lord knows they’re crowded enough already!”

  “Serena!” Zoey’s face went bright red.

  “Oh, right! Like he doesn’t know he’s got a ballistic weapon in his—”

  Enough! Zoey’s psychic voice rang in Serena’s head, silencing her in mid-joke. “It’s alright, Isaac, really,” she smiled warmly up at him and gave him a quick kiss. “We just had some car problems. Had to call for a tow.”

  “Yea, ‘car problems’. That’s one way to put it, I guess.” Serena sighed, “You know that most of what was under that hood was custom?” She drove her fist into her palm, “I am so going to make those rogues pay!”

  “Oh good! You guys are finally back,” Nikki stepped out, her hair held up in a bun and her dark skin glistening from sweat.

  “You’d better just be sweaty from an actual work out!” Serena narrowed her eyes.

  “Yeah, yeah! We just got back from the gym.” Nikki smirked. “No need to get your panties in a twist.”

  “Lord knows they’re crowded enough already,” Isaac chuckled.

  “Oh, I bet you’re just happy as a pig in shit to have had that opportunity, aren’t you?” Serena stuck her tongue out at Isaac.

  Both Isaac and Zoey laughed.

  Serena rolled her eyes and sighed, turning back to Nikki and watched as Raith stepped out, still shirtless.