by Toni Goode
This man or whatever he was, he was going to kill her. Everything around her began to get foggy and she knew it was only a matter of seconds and she would be gone but then something large smashed into both of them and she flew across the porch gasping for air as loud sounds were heard. She could barely make them out as she gasped and gasped for air. It sounded like growling or a dog, perhaps several dogs? The sound faded off into the distance and everything turned black as she passed out.
John watched as she passed out, but he couldn’t help her at the moment because he was currently tearing out the neck of the vampire in front of him. The taste of the inhuman blood made him queasy as he pulled back and limped over towards her body on the ground. He was slowly changing back into his human self. His energy drained as he fell next to her, breathing heavy as he checked a few of his wounds. At least the stiches had stayed. He groaned as he tried to get up. It took all the strength in him to attack that blood sucking bastard, but he also knew that if there was one, there was more.
He forced himself up and he checked her for a pulse. She was breathing but he could tell something wasn’t right. Her breathing was labored. He was sure her wind pipe was broken. He contemplated what to. He couldn’t help her there and they couldn’t stay, or they would both be dead. His brother was a doctor, Michael could help her but that was also nearly two hours away. He wasn’t even sure she would make it. Part of him thought about leaving her behind or dropping her off a hospital. Could a hospital even save her? He listened as her breathing became more labored. She was dying, he knew the sound all to well. He knew he didn’t have much time. The sound of gurgling snapped him back to reality as he looked at her. Her eyes opened wide as she began to cough up blood. John acted quickly as he pulled her up against him. She struggled to speak as she looked up at him. The look of fear in her eyes brought him to another place. It was as if he was reliving a nightmare and suddenly he saw his wife Kate in his arms as she lay motionless. Her body was cold and limp, but her eyes were open as she stared lifelessly into the sky. “Kate, Kate wake up. Your going to be ok.” His words came out frantically as he looked around for help, but no one was there. “Honey wake up please, don’t do this.” His words came out choked as he cradled her body against his. “Please... don’t…” He pleaded as he rocked her. The sound of gasping brought him back into reality as he looked down and saw the red-haired woman grabbing at her own throat as she tried to breath but to no avail. He couldn’t move as he sat there. Her life slipping away. He couldn’t lose her and so he did the only thing he could think of. He bit her.
Chapter Four
John stood at the doorway of his brother Michael’s house. He was completely naked and holding Briana’s motionless body in his arms. The sun would be coming up soon and she was still out of it. Worry consumed him. He banged his fist on the door until his brother swung it open. His eyes immediately got wide as John pushed his way inside.
“What the hell John, are you kidding me!?” Michael yelled angrily as John laid Briana’s body onto the couch. “You can’t do that John, who the hell is she?” Michael said in utter shock, but John didn’t say anything as he quickly went out of the room in search of clothes. As he got to the hallway he walked past Michael’s very pregnant wife Maria.
“What the?” Maria said as she watched a naked John pass her and then she looked to her husband as well as the red-haired girl on the couch. “Oh my god, don’t tell me that is what it looks like.” She said in shock.
Michael ran a hand through his short brown hair as he looked at the girl then his wife. “Just stay right here.” He said as he swiftly went down the hallway. John was in the bedroom grabbing clothes as Michael got into the room. “John what the hell man!” He snapped loudly. “Do not tell me that is what it looks like!”
“Not now Michael.” John snapped as he quickly got a pair of jeans on as Michael moved in closer. “I’ve had one hell of a day.” John added.
“No shit, who is she? And is that a bite mark on her?” Michael continued almost hysterically.
“I need your truck and your phone.” John ignored him as he grabbed a t-shirt and put it on.
“No, no absolutely not. What the hell is going on, first you go MIA and now this?” Michael snapped.
“I don’t have time for this.” John went to push past his brother, but Michael pushed back. “Michael back off!” John yelled now.
“Back off? What the hell is going on! That’s a human and she is bit. Did you do that?” Michael said in shock, but John roughly pushed past him now as he left the room. “No, we need to talk about this!” Michael snapped as he chased after John who quickly went into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. “Are you seriously doing this right now? Do you understand how illegal this is!” Michael ran up to him but before John could speak Maria could be heard yelling.
“Someone get in here and help me!” She yelled out as both men turned to look and then they were both rushing into the Livingroom. That’s when they saw the girl convulsing on the couch.
“Jesus!” Michael ran over to her as her body convulsed violently. “Get my bag!” He yelled to his wife as John stood by across the room. “The least you can do is help me out, get over here!” Michael yelled to John who quickly walked over. John wasn’t stupid, he knew how bad this was. All of it was one huge screwed up mess. He knew this, and he also knew the world of shit he was about to be in. “Grab her legs, hold her down.” Michael barked at him as he turned her over onto her side. Maria came running back in the room with a medical bag in hand. “I need the Diazepam.” He said anxiously as Maria fumbled through his bag. “I said keep her still John!” Michael yelled at his brother who grabbed her legs harder. Maria grabbed a needle and quickly grabbed a vial of medication. Michael grabbed it from her as he filled the needle and then jabbed the needle into her neck. Her convulsions slowed tremendously until she was completely still again. Michael checked her vitals as John stepped back.
“Is she... Is she dead?” Maria’s voice shook with worry.
“No but she isn’t out of the woods.” Michael said as he checked her pulse. “I need to get an IV started, get the saline and the IV pole.” He said quickly to Maria who rushed out of the room, he brought his attention back to John who was now leaning up against the wall.
John watched from a distance as his brother put an IV in her arm and flushed her with fluids. He had never changed a human before, but he had heard of it being done though the chances of living through the transformation were very small, he had to do it. He couldn’t have just left her to die and she would have died. The consequences that would come with this would be grave, people have been condemned for less than this and he was a leader, an alpha. He paced the room as his brother did all he could for the girl. He didn’t even know her name. How could it be that he didn’t even know her name. She had literally saved him twice and he knew nothing about her.
He mainly stayed away from humans, there was too many complications by being around them not that there weren’t some that knew of their existence because there was a select few who knew. Those that helped to keep the peace between the species. There was a group of elders from each species of supernatural. The wolves, the vampires, the witches and warlocks. They all had a council, laws that must be abided by, but that council was barely functioning for todays world. It had been set up centuries ago and times had changed, things were different now. There was supposed to be a truce between the groups, ones that allowed them all to live in somewhat harmony. The vampires for instance had been pushing the boundaries for awhile now and John didn’t trust any of them. The council had said it was a rogue one that had run off and killed his wife, but he knew better. Now he knew the truth especially since they had tried to kill him off and a human had got caught up in the mix. There would be hell to pay, he would make sure of it.
He moved back into the kitchen as his brother continued in the Livingroom. He wasn’t typically afflicted like he was now and definitely not over a huma
n girl. He drank another beer as he let his mind drift.
“What the hell did you do John, how did this happen?” His brother said angrily as John was snapped from his thoughts.
“Is she alive?” John kept staring out the window.
“Barely, what the hell!” Michael grabbed a beer from the fridge and quickly began to down it. “So, you take off against the council’s orders and now this?” Michael was beside himself as he began to pace now. “Your going to get us killed, and I have a freaking child on the way!” He downed his beer and John turned to face him now. It wasn’t often that he saw his brother this upset. Hell, his brother was usually the voice of reason, always had been. “The council needs to know, there is no way about it. What the hell!” Michael yelled as he paced the kitchen.
“She was dying ok, what was I supposed to do. I reacted.” John said honestly.
“Maybe by not running off to god knows where. You’re the god damn Alpha John! Our people look up to you.” Michael walked across the room. “That girl is better off dead because if the change doesn’t kill her then the council will.” He began to hyperventilate.
“Aren’t you even the least bit curious where I have been? Those blood suckers were tracking me for miles. They nearly killed me, and that girl over there saved me!” John snapped at his brother.
“Your delusional, that’s it. You’ve lost it” Michael began as he shook his head.
“Are you even listening to me!” John got in his brother’s face. “Those god damn bastards went after me. Truce my ass. They are just waiting for the perfect time to turn on us all and your precious council is going to let it happen. Then everyone will be dead, including your unborn child!” John yelled as Michael shoved him.
“Your losing it. Don’t you see. Your paranoid. You did this, that girl will probably die and that is on you.” Michael walked past him as Maria came into the kitchen. She looked at both the brothers and then John stormed out of the room without another word. “He’s out of control,” Michael said to his wife as she walked over to him.
“We can’t keep her here.” She said with worry in her voice. “Did you notice how similar she looks to...” Her voice trailed some.
Michael sighed and wrapped his arms around his wife. “I don’t know what to do with him. Ever since Kate’s death it’s like he just doesn’t care. Maybe he is trying to get himself killed.” He said honestly.
John stared at her small body on the couch. She had an IV in her arm and some color had come back into her face. Maybe she would make it after all? It wasn’t an impossible feat. He reached down and pushed a long strand of red hair out of her face. As far as humans went she was attractive. He couldn’t deny that even though he had never been with a human before. Actually, until recently he had never been with anyone besides his wife Kate. He had been married for twenty years.
Michael and Maria walked into the Livingroom and stopped as they saw John leaning down to the red-haired girl. It had been a long time since Michael had seen his brother look that affected by someone. Maybe this girl wasn’t all bad for him after all. Maria squeezed his hand as he looked at her. They shared a look as Maria nodded her head and then cleared her throat as John quickly moved away from the couch.
“John you have to go see the council. They need to know about this.” Michael said honestly. John looked back at the couch and then sighed. “Come on I’ll take you.” Michael said as he turned and looked at his wife.
“I got this, you two go.” Maria said with a shake of her head.
“Change out the saline in an hour.” Michael said as he kissed her forehead and then both guys headed out of the house.
The council was located in the next town. Each species had an elder that tried to keep order, but the elders were old, and some had even outgrown their position. John use to have faith in the order but after Kate’s murder he didn’t trust anyone. The vampire elder was an immortal by the name of Jacob. It was rumored that he was one of the oldest living vampires and that he was older than Jesus himself. The last time John had seen him was right after Kate’s death. He had blamed Jacob’s leadership and that he had grown too soft for his own good. John felt as though the vampires were looking to take over. The truce that all the species had was almost two centuries old.
The truce had come into play during the 1800’s, it was right after the civil war in the united states. Humans and supernatural alike were dying at an alarming rate. The need to protect what little life was left. It had made the truce worthwhile. If the truce hadn’t taken place, then likely everyone would have died and over the years as the different countries began meddling in nuclear weapons. It was key that everyone kept to themselves. Most people would think that a supernatural being would be at the top of the food chain, but it was very far from the truth.
Humans were definitely more dangerous then any supernatural being and so a truce began that had all the different species following a certain set of laws and rules. Some of the rules were based on family tradition such as the wolf packs that had Alpha leaders and vampires who had royal blood in them. Though each species had a different set of rules to help keep the peace, a few rules stayed the same no matter the background. No supernatural being would change or transform another without the council being notified first, because most supernaturals were born into their families it was rare to find an outsider amongst them and it was definitely frowned upon. It was difficult for human immune systems to change successfully, more often then not it ended up in death and death of a human meant questions. Questions were not good especially since 99% of the human population had no idea that this supernatural world even existed. The vampires on the other hand were only allowed to feed on the willing and feeding to the point of death was a high crime. Most vampires used only synthetic blood to feed, numerous blood factories were located all over the world. Though synthetic blood was much different than the real deal, it was good enough to keep them alive because without blood they would eventually dry up and turn almost stone like.
It wasn’t easy to keep the humans blinded to the truth but with the economy and overall state of violence in the world, a lot of the deaths were labeled as accidents. Supernatural were not supposed to be running around and causing chaos but John didn’t believe that for a second. He didn’t trust the blood suckers regardless of the truce. Hell, he had just spent two days on the run from them, the same ones who killed his wife.
The car ride to the next town and to the embassy was only a half hour away but the silence in the car ride made it feel like so much more. Michael drove as he looked at John who stared aimlessly out the window.
“Why did you just take off John. You should have told me.” He began as John looked at him now.
“And then what? What exactly would you have done if I told you?” John asked sarcastically.
“I would have reminded you that the council are taking care of the situation without causing a stir.” Michael said honestly.
“The council is delusional. I was chased by three of those god damn blood suckers, well two now.” John shook his head.
“There are rules John, you know this. “Michael tried to make him understand.
“Well then apparently no one gave those blood suckers the memo!” John snapped. “They are going to wipe us out one by one while the council twiddle their thumbs.” John looked back out the window.
“This won’t bring her back John, vengeance is not the way.” Michael said as John snapped his head around to look at his brother.
“She was murdered in cold blood!” John snapped angrily.
“And no one denies that John, but you know better than anyone that there are bad seeds in every group. Gregory is taking care of it.” Michael began as John cut him off with a sarcastic laugh.
“Gregory should be in a nursing home. He has no idea what is happening right under his nose.” John snapped angrily.
Gregory was the wolf elder and he was crazier than ever. John had known him since he was younger. All the A
lpha’s from the different packs had to go through training with Gregory. The old man was losing his mind and it was a danger to all the species.
“I’m not going to sit here and argue with you. You messed up John and I refuse to let you put us all in danger, brother or not. “Michael said honestly.
“Am I supposed to be surprised? You were always so far up Gregory’s ass that you can’t even see what is happening around you!” John snapped. “Those blood suckers are trying to wipe us out and if you don’t see that then it’s on you!”
“You’re my brother and I love you man but lately you have gone too far. If you don’t want to talk to me about Kate, then talk to someone before you destroy yourself completely.” Michael said as John turned and looked out the window again. He didn’t want to talk about Kate. He didn’t want to talk about anything!
Meanwhile back at the house Briana was living her own hellish nightmare as she laid on the couch. The woods surrounded her as she looked around. “Hello? Hello is anyone there!” She yelled out only to hear her own voice echo back to her. The trees were enormous around her and the darkness seemed to engulf her. Where the hell was she? What had happened? Images of blue eyes glaring at her. She couldn’t breathe. She was dying! She yelled out for help again as she began to run frantically through the thick forest. There was no one around but then she heard a sound. It was more like a howl and she stopped as she looked around. The howl got closer as she took off running. She contemplated jumping up a tree but they were just so big and so she ran as sounds of growling and howling could be heard. Something was after her, something big. Her mind drifted again as she ran. There had been a dog or a wolf back at her house, maybe a hybrid of the two because whatever she saw was enormous.