I stopped dead in the center of the sidewalk, those who were standing around us walked off to our sides avoiding us as much as they could.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, and watched me sniff the air.
I turned quickly in time to see three Werewolves standing there down the street watching us. Intently. A slight growl came out of my throat and caught Scarlet off guard. I realized after a few moments that they were not any sort of a threat to us. I saw the looks in their eyes, and saw that it was friendly and perhaps not so menacing. Maybe curious and couldn’t help themselves but to stare us down.
“Come.” I started towards them, and Scarlet was right on my heel.
“What do they want?” She asked, “Why are you walking towards them? We don’t know them.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I responded hoping that covered each of her questions.
“Angel.” The English accented man breathed my name.
“And you are?” I asked raising an eyebrow very curiously at him.
“Braeden.” He stated, “Duncan, and Jarreth.” He motioned to the men standing behind him.
Braeden was a tall man and had very blonde hair that was long down past his waist, and his eyes were very dark brown, with green rings around his pupils. All three of them were adorned in rough beaten leather from which it looked like their clan had killed and made themselves.
Duncan was just about as tall as Braeden, with long brown hair that was wavy, to his shoulders and had amber eyes. Jarreth was with reddish hair that was shoulder length, straight and had some brown mixed in, and his eyes were green with a tint of blue on the edges.
“Who is your friend?” Braeden asked motioning with his hand towards the girl behind me.
“Scarlet.” I responded quickly looking around me.
“No one is watching.” Jarreth said quietly, “No one ever looks. They are too afraid.”
“I do realize that, but this is not the place to do any talking. I know you want something…” I said to him.
“You’re right, this isn’t the best place to talk, come.” Braeden beckoned. I hesitated.
All three men moved with sure grace, such status, and integrity. With their looks alone they could stop people here in there tracks. Horses pulling carts and carriages shied away from them. Children gazed in wonder as they passed the five of us. What a sight we were.
“Where are we going?” I heard Scarlet lean towards my ear. I didn’t answer her. I just shrugged. “You trust them?” She spoke again.
“I trust no one.” I said with a hiss.
She was taken aback with the way I responded, I could hear a slight falter in her steps behind me. Sometimes the things that come out of my mouth are not really meant to be as harsh as I say them. But it’s who I am, and I have always been this way.
“Here.” Braeden said as he opened a basement door that was going down underneath a brand new brick building.
“And this will take us where?” I asked stopping in front of him. The others were down the stairs already and waiting with torches.
“One of our headquarters.” He answered me, “It’s safe.” I wanted to ask him to define safe…
“Fine.” I eyed him a moment before I turned to Scarlet nodding as if she was waiting for my approval to go ahead down the stairs. I grabbed her arm with my left hand, and my right hand was on my dagger handle.
I would not let anything happen to this young girl who I just met. Though it looked like she knew pretty well what she was doing, she still had a lot of innocence left in her. I could see that in her eyes. She will not pass into the next world on my watch. And there was something about her that made me want to protect her, to keep her alive and to keep her safe at all times. Maybe like a sister I never had.
“This is the way that we must take you, I am sorry.” I heard Braeden from behind us. Duncan and Jarreth were in front of us with torches lit so that we may see where we were headed.
“It’s fine.” I said, “I think that if I had a hidden lair, I would make it like this as well.”
The tunnel reeked of urine and earth. It wasn’t the best smell. It was one of those smells that made your nose kind of curl up and makes you want to make the fast movement to cover you nose with your hand or anything to keep the smell from entering your lungs.
It was dark and cold and very depressing. You could hear the water dripping and running down the sides of the bricked up walls and occasionally you would hear water splash from someone’s foot stepping into it.
“Where is your lair Miss Angel?” Duncan turned his head to ask me the question.
“North East America.” I politely replied to his ever so nosey question.
“Where about’s?” Braeden asked.
“Oh I don’t tell.” I smiled again in politeness.
“Why?” Jarreth asked.
“To protect my tribe.” I said. Now I was getting a little irritated with the questions of prying into my life and my people.
“Only a few more miles.” Duncan announced. Only a few more miles…
“Only a few? How the hell long is this tunnel?” Scarlet muttered under her breath. I felt a little bit of fear building up inside of her.
It felt like hours of silence and splashing water under our feet till we reached the end of the tunnel. This tunnel we had followed had only led us out of the city limits, and slightly beyond the wooded area. Once we reached the light again, there was a faint smell of humans and the sounds were now barely audible.
Braden walked his way in front of Duncan and Jarreth while they straggled behind us, as if we needed bodyguards surrounding us in these parts.
There was a scent of burning wood in the distance, meat cooking, the taste of blood, and laughter. My throat swelled in fear that my control may be lost with the scent of the blood. What were we walking into?
The scent of yeast and honey now filled my nostrils slowly. The noises came more clear, and the images within the tears revealed themselves to us slowly. It was hundreds of people, or Were people. A camp of them, a traveling group. There was music now making its way through the air stream and into our ears. Fiddles and drumming. It was very fast and it almost made me want to do some sort of a jig. Almost.
I could hear the saliva being swallowed next to me in Scarlet’s throat. I could sense that she had to try extra hard to over come her hunger for the blood lust.
“Braeden!” A cheerful voice boomed from over the crowd that we had entered into, “You have brought guests!” I haven’t seen anything like this in a long time, since I had left my tribe. It brought back memories of home. I found myself wanting to go home. Back home to my family and my people.
These people were all lurking about. Drinking mead, some already drunken from the mixture. There were wild animal sex acts going on outside the crowds and the fires, just outside the trees where it was all still visible. No one even seemed to mind this, as it must go on quite often. There were children running around naked, and men chasing women. Everyone here looked so comfortable in their skins. I wonder how that feels?
“Angel! I have heard so much about you! Boys, I am glad you found her.” This man came forward to kiss both of my cheeks, he had a British accent, he was very tall and muscular. He was dark skinned and had very dark eyes. His voice was very deep and booming. “I am Quinn. I lead this here clan.” Quinn smiled to Scarlet, “And you are Scarlet are you not?”
“I am.” She looked at me then back at Quinn.
“I know all.” He smiled.
He smelled of their toxic mixture. But I couldn’t help but laugh at this big man. He was definitely quite the character. One like no one I had ever met before.
“So you can smile? It’s beautiful.” He winked at me. I tried to stop smiling.
Scarlet looked at me with some doubt in her eyes. I had no answers. But being here with these Were’s did not feel wrong. In a way it almost felt right, like I was supposed to be here and meet these pe
ople.
“Now, my two new friends, please enjoy yourselves tonight and tomorrow we shall have ourselves a chat.” Quinn stated loudly over the music and the merry making that was going on.
Scarlet and I were left on our own as the others walked away into the crowd grabbing drinks on their way over towards the food and the women.
“Who are all of these people?” Scarlet leaned in closely towards my ear.
“Werewolves and gypsies.” I answered her question in just a few words. “Come. Tonight we find out what they are all about.” I grabbed her arm tightly and led her forward into the center of all the action.
“What they are all about?” She asked me.
“Yes.” I stated.
“Morning to you.” Quinn’s voice came out of the forest. I turned to see him and a few others who we had not met last night upon our arrival.
“And to you.” I returned his greeting. I looked around at the area where they were all gathered just last night. There was nothing but scorch marks from where all of the fires had been burning.
“You did not sleep last night?” Quinn asked me.
Scarlet had slept, but I had not. “No, I didn’t.” I said to him, “Quinn, it has been a pleasure, really, your hospitality has been great, but we must be going now. There are things to do.” I stood up.
“That is why we must speak Angel. We have much to discuss.” Quinn whispered.
“To discuss?” I spat back questioning him.
“The Black Thorn.” Quinn whispered towards me like there were ears on the surrounding trees. There very well might be. If there were, we’d have probably smelt it by now.
“Go on.” I said. Scarlet was at my side now listening very intently to this conversation. She would not rest until her family had vengeance.
“We know about Scarlet, and your family.” He turned to her with those words. Her eyes now widened at those words. “But you have to understand that we couldn’t do anything about it. No one could have.”
“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?” I asked. Scarlet was still standing quietly and taking it all in.
“Both.” He said. The men behind him were looking around the forest. Braeden, Duncan, and Jarreth had now entered into the clearing where we were standing.
“Why?” Scarlet’s voice was shaky.
“The Black Thorn owns the authority for starters.” Quinn said.
“Owns?” Scarlet asked.
“They’re under their control.” Braeden stated.
“I thought Vampyres wanted nothing to do with the humans?” I asked.
“They never did before!” Quinn said a little loudly with excitement.
“So what has changed then?” I asked getting restless with standing around waiting for them to get to the point.
“Vampyres decided to go against us. They had recruited the humans here in London. They offered some of them immortality and others power and control and riches.”
“This is just going on here?” I asked him.
“As far as we know…” Quinn paused. “The Black Thorn doesn’t want to share power with any other Vampyre clans in this world. They want all the glory to themselves.”
“Knowledge is power I suppose.” Braeden started, “After trying to blend in with them as we have, and what they learned about the humans, they have learned how to get control over them, and have them start work for them.”
“Working for them?” Scarlet questioned.
“Yes. Working.” Braeden confirmed.
“The Black Thorn figures that they just may be able to gain their respect and get control…” Quinn started.
"They're working from within." Braeden interrupted Quinn.
"Within?" I asked crossing my arms and scowling.
"Or amongst them." Braeden said.
"So what you're basically saying is that Vampyres and Humans are working together.....that's all you had to say..." I paused. "Against who? Against the Werewolves?" I asked.
"Yes." Quinn said, “And everyone else who would go up against them.”
“And what does this, any of this have to do with me? With us?” I pointed to myself and then to Scarlet.
“You’re one of us, are you not?” Duncan’s voice asked from behind Braeden.
“Only half.” I was cut off.
“But you were the first Hybrid.” Quinn pointed out the obvious.
“Then this has everything to do with you and those who are like you.” Braeden said.
“Alright, wait…How did you even know that I was around this area?” I asked. No one answered my question. They all just smiled. I shrugged it off. They have spies.
I turned to face Scarlet. Her eyes appeared as if they were on fire. Her rage showing like she was ready to explode. She screamed. She howled. She hissed. I jumped fast covering her mouth.
“You must learn to control your rage!” I yelled. “You want to give ourselves away?”
I slowly released my hand from over her mouth. She said nothing. Her eyes still showing anger, but mixed with confusion. I think that she kept her mouth shut in fear that she may scream again and howl out loud.
“You must channel your anger and use it for vengeance for your family. Not get your self killed.” I added.
Again, she said nothing to me. She simply stood in place looking at me. She nodded looking away with tears welling up in her eyes and stared at the ground. I didn’t move from where I stood next to her. I stood my ground. There were Werewolves crouched down as if they were ready to pounce on her.
“So, tell me gentlemen, what must I do?” I asked, still looking into Scarlet’s face as she watched the ground.
As I spoke those last few words, she looked up at me in surprise. I could hear all their lips curve up in to smiles.
“Thought you would never ask.” Quinn laughed whole heartedly.
“Tonight, meet us about twenty miles north from here. Look for the rock formation at the top, looks like a half circle. After the sun goes down we shall discuss everything.” Braeden said.
Quinn nodded to what he had said, “That’s our main headquarters.”
“Too much daylight here and obvious points of attack. North where we have protection, and discussion will be less likely heard.” Braeden said.
With those words, the six of them disappeared into the dark parts of the forest. I suppose that they were heading north to these so called headquarters of their’s. Twenty miles is a long hike. I’m sure if they shifted they would be super fast. Luckily I don’t have to shift to be fast. However, Scarlet doesn’t have that ability. Yet.
“Rest.” I said to Scarlet. “We have a long way to go.” I said as if I was annoyed.
“Thank you by the way.” She said.
“For what?” I asked her as I sat down on a big rock looking at her.
“For everything.” She responded.
“I guess…” I whispered as I took out my daggers for a quick sharpening.
“You didn’t have to volunteer for this you know. This is my fight.”
“And you would get yourself killed with your un-controllable anger. You’re still a child.” I said, “And it isn’t just your fight.”
She sat down across from me on a log with her head in her hands. I stayed right where I was just watching her and reading her emotions, as she was an open book when it came to her emotions.
“You’re still young. Sixteen forever.” I paused, “All you have to do is learn to control yourself.”
“Then teach me control.” She looked up at me taking her head out of her hands.
“I’m not much of a teacher…I’m not much of anything.”
“That is where you’re wrong.” She said. I didn’t say anything at first and then I spoke up.
“Tomorrow we will decide where to go and what to do. But only tomorrow. After we talk to the others tonight. Seriously now you should get some rest.” I said.
“Tomorrow then.” She said, sea
ting herself onto the ground and leaning against a tree to sleep. She closed her eyes and it only took a few seconds before I heard the steady beat of her heart and rhythmic breathing.
Today, I would not sleep. I have gone days without sleeping before. I have never known exhaustion. Which you might think is strange. It just isn’t something that us Hybrids have ever been able to feel.
Watching her, I felt sorry for her. A hybrid girl stuck at sixteen forever. That age of innocence, on the verge of being an adult. And everything in the blink of an eye was taken from her. That is the one question that I didn’t get to ask her.
Why? Why was her family really killed? Why was she left for dead and why didn’t they just kill her like the rest of her family? All of this was a need to know. And deep inside of me, I think I already knew.
It had not really occurred to me to ask her any questions about her situation. Had the Black Thorn targeted them for some unknown insane reason? Or were they just in the way? Or was it that they were hungry and their scent just simply appealed to them? I had so many questions and I didn’t want to be that type of person with these gifts that I have, to go in to her head and snoop around. Or should I?
I can always sense when someone is lying. If she doesn’t tell me the truth I will know. I will always know.
There is so much that Scarlet, or anyone else for that matter doesn’t know about me. At most times, I want to keep it that way. Then at other times I want those who are like me, to know everything there is to know about me and the other Hybrids.
Most of the Hybrids now are in hiding. It is almost top secret in these hard times. All Hybrids aren’t even meant to be in this world, so none of us can be blamed for wanting to be in hiding. It’s just the way things are and will most likely always be.
I suspect some are underground. Some maybe seeking refuge amongst other werewolves, or blending in with humankind. You have to remember that our scent is undetectable. If you make yourself obvious, then there isn’t any doubt that you will be found. Keep quiet and you will stay alive.
Fate of the Blood Moon's Path Page 2