The Problem

by C. G Leigh

  He laughs, "You've never been in love have you?”

  I roll my eyes, "No, have you, old man?" I bluntly throwback.

  He shakes his head, "No, but I've heard it's quite an unpleasant feeling.”

  "Well then I don't think I ever want to fall in love,” I sigh.

  He smirks, "Don't flatter yourself sweetheart I don't think you're exactly on the road to falling in love anytime soon with the way you're going about kneeing men and knocking into them."

  "Well Darlin I don't think you're exactly the prize chicken at the fair with your sparkling disposition,” I droll giving it right back.

  He laughs, "Darlin, nice one I think that'll be my new nickname for you.” I just glare not deeming him worthy of a response.

  “Sorry you had to leave your boyfriend locked up,” He mentions confusing me. I realize he’s talking about Fletcher, “Yuck, maybe at one time I thought he was cute, but that was about his only redeemable quality now he’s just a dick and a liar.”

  “Ouch you could give a gazelle a run for his money, and here I thought you were all sweet rubbing yourself up against me when we first met,” he teases.

  I scoff, “You are so full of yourself, you and I both know I was trying to get away from you, not accost you in the road.”

  He laughs, “I was full of something.” I glare, “You are being a pervert, can we jus agree never to speak of that again?”

  He looks at the wheel, “Sure, I keep it tucked away just for my dreams.”

  I suck my teeth ready to beat him. “Kidding, I will be nothing but a gentleman from here on out,” he agrees.

  Rolling my eyes, I look out the window just noticing the forested scenery around us and the large house just at the end of the road surrounded by greenery.

  He parks the truck around back where I notice seven more cars parked and a large red barn behind the house, "So this is home, just a warning there are thirty seven other people that live here. Some of them won't be happy welcoming a hunter.”

  "Thirty seven, what is this a cult?" I ask, surprised.

  "No, but it is a clan, we're all lycans, a family really. Eighteen are related to me and the other nineteen are out of towners that needed a safe place to go with their families.”

  He gets out first, I move to open my door, but before I can he arrives pulling it open, my bag already slung over his shoulder. "Common Darlin I'll show you around, he smirks.

  "You know that's going to get old really fast,” I groan.

  "Not for me,” he smiles amused, shutting the door behind me.

  Following him towards the front door it opens and three men and a woman step outside. One of the men steps forward looking only a few years older than Shepard, "Son, Ward called, told us about the Hunter we would be looking after, this must be her,” he explains assessing me. He appears to be stern, serious and dangerous immediately putting me on guard.

  "Jeez when Ward called I expected someone a bit less attractive,” one of the other men utters looking at me suggestively.

  "I know 4,783 different ways to kill a man,” I say smiling back at him suggestively.

  "Are you threatening my son?” The man asks, taking a step towards me.

  "That depends is he threatening me?” I ask, not stepping down or backing up.

  Shepard steps in front of me, dare I say protectively, "Enough Ray, Dad she just has some issues when it comes to romantic feelings and associations.”

  Annoyed, I cross my arms and glare at him, "I do not.”

  Shepard looks at me knowingly, "Yes you do Darlin, need I remind you of your teacher and you accosting me in the street".

  “We weren’t going to mention that any more,” I hiss.

  "She attacked you in the street?" Another of the men asks, surprised.

  "Of course not Charlie, just a misunderstanding. She does have an ex boyfriend who now happens to be her teacher,” he clarifies.

  "He was never my boyfriend,” I say irritated.

  "Fine, but there will be no more threatening, Hunter,” Shepard's Dad orders, taking another step towards us.

  Moving around Shepard, I face his Dad, "I'm not technically a hunter, yet, I still need to take the rites. So until then I promise I won't kill or hunt anyone, deal, oh and my name is Gemma,” I look him in the eyes feeling brave.

  Shepard's Dad looks ready to maim me, "Oh she's just wonderful,” the woman standing beside him exclaims walking down the steps towards me.

  The men instinctively move, following her, "Anna,” Shep's Dad says warningly.

  She suddenly launches herself at me and my body instinctively goes into a defensive stance ready to cause her some serious damage when instead of attacking me, she wraps her arms around me hugging me tightly.

  "What are you doing?" I ask surprised, my arms hang lifelessly at my sides.

  "I'm hugging you my dear girl, you're fantastic,” she murmurs hugging me tighter.

  "Does she do this often?" I ask, looking to Shepard for an answer.

  "Only to the ones she really likes,” he answers slightly confused.

  "Well you shouldn't,” I announce, "I could be some crazy, psychopathic killing machine just waiting for some unsuspecting person to come close to me to strike,” I say trying to urge her away.

  She laughs, "Oh you're funny, but my dear you're in desperate need of a good hug. I can tell, you've not been hugged nearly enough in your life.”

  "Mom's doing that spooky mind reading thing again,” Charlie whispers to Ray looking at us.

  I cough, "Your mom can read minds,” I whisper questioning Shep.

  “What afraid she’ll read your dirty thoughts about me?” He smirks. “Sicko,” I scoff.

  He grins, “No, not really it's more like she can see the future". I gulp, slightly afraid that she would learn my secret, the secret about my true parents, but she says nothing, continuing to embrace me in her arms.

  "Anna enough, clearly the girl is uncomfortable, I don't trust her,” Shepard's Dad steps closer to us.

  "Well I do, she has a kind soul. I can feel it, you're going to be very special to this town, and this family, very soon,” she whispers pulling away from me.

  A chill runs up my spine, "Sure whatever you say,” I mutter uncomfortably.

  "Oh boy, where are my manners? My name is Anna, I'm Shepard's Mom and this is my husband Madgi. Our sons Ray and Charlie, Shep of course, and our youngest Lex is around somewhere you'll meet him a bit later. I hope you feel at home here.” She looks at me lovingly as she introduces me to everyone. It's all very off putting for me, and out of character for people I don't know.

  "Shepard bring her inside and show her to the blue room,” Anna orders looking at Shep.

  "Wait, but no one is allowed in the blue room. You said that yourself for the past hundred and fifty years,” Shepard's Dad questions confused.

  "Yes, and she has finally arrived hence why she is going to the blue room, I had it prepared just for her. Now Shepard, best not to diddle daddle show Gemma to her room,” Anna orders looking pointedly at him.

  "Yes, Mam, come on Gemma,” Shep moves up the stairs towards the front door and I quietly follow after him. Unable to comprehend Anna's thinking, she had seen me coming a hundred and fifty years ago?

  Once inside, I follow Shep up several flights of stairs until we finally arrive at a door, completely white, with a blue seashell on the outside, "You should brace yourself,” he comments, opening the door for me, allowing me to go in first.

  As soon as I step through, the breath seems to leave me, this room might just be the most perfect place I have ever seen. The walls are decorated with an under the sea theme, with real seashells, starfish and pearls on the walls. They're all painted gold, and the bed has an ocean blue comforter, with gold and blue pillows. The headboard is decorated in fishnet and more of the shells. Beside the bed is a small white table with a Mermaid figurine on it and a blue laptop. The ceiling has a sparkly and elegant chandelier, A large television is on the wall a
cross from the bed with the outline being made to look like a giant shell.

  Mermaids are painted all around the room, tastefully. One wall of the room is decorated differently to the others, instead, of being covered in sea themes and mermaids it has all different type of bows and arrows, knives, a sword, taser, pepper spray, a few different guns and what looks to be even a container of stunning salt, I don't know how they got their hands on that. The weapons are in a huge case with a spot to type in a code. To put it in one word this room is spectacular.

  "So what do you think?" Shep asks, watching me intently.

  "It's just terrible, I mean mermaids that's just blah,” I say meeting his eyes.

  He smirks, "Really?"

  "Really,” I repeat, challenging.

  "Well that's okay it can be fixed, me and a couple of the boys will just come in tomorrow and take all this away, we'll paint the walls something a little more you, I'm thinking all black,” he replies looking around.

  "No,” I say a little too quickly.

  He quirks an eyebrow, "It's just that your Mom went to all the trouble of making my room nice, so it should stay this way and no one should touch anything,” I say trying to reason with him.

  "Your room huh,” he questions.

  "No, I mean yes, it is my room for now until you let me go or I somehow escape so no touching anything,” I order with finality.

  "Alright, well the bathroom is right there,” he points towards a few doors down from my room and my room is right here he points to the room across from mine with a red door outlined in gold with black symbols over it, "There are clean clothes in the closet and towels in the bathroom if you want to get cleaned up. Dinner is in thirty, don't be late and don't wonder, remember no more than thirty yards. Oh and I'm taking this,” he moves grabbing the laptop from the room.

  “Unless you want me to stay with you, we could use those thirty minutes for a lot,” he offers.

  “Not a chance,” I sass putting my hands on my hips. “Well if you change your mind you know where I am, I like my dessert before my dinner,” he grins.

  I roll my eyes, closing the door to my room, and go to the closet. It would be nice to get out of these dirty clothes and take a look at my head. Opening the closet door I become even more amazed by the room, clothes of all sorts are hung up, shoes all around and droors of underclothes. My eyes immediately set on a black shirt, the bottom sticks out looking like a tutu, with a bedazzled mermaid on it.

  Every part of me was being called by the shirt, finally caving I grab it and a pair of jeans. Going to the bathroom I look at my head in the mirror, the small cut has scabbed over with only a small bruise formed around it. Sighing I turn on the water and jump in finally getting clean. I try to make it a quick shower and change into the clothes, looking through the bathroom I find a hairbrush and unknot my tangled brown hair. Leaving it down I gather my dirty clothes and set them down in the corner of the room while I lay down on the bed finally having a moment of peace.

  What am I going to do? I can't live here forever, eventually Memere and Pepere will come looking and the Creed will send reinforcements. Eventually this town will be wiped away by the amount of Hunters that will "Storm the gates". I mean the Creed isn't going to let this go, Dmitri is here, both his parents are in the Creed and Fletcher is a well known hunter. It won't take long for them to find out that something has happened to us.

  For a moment I feel fear for my parents, and the people here. Hell, I even feel fear for Shep and his family, they will come it's only a matter of time, the question is, when. My thoughts are heading down a dark path, but the sudden jolt I feel changes my focus towards drifting toward the bracelet that is currently buzzing.

  "What the hell?", I yell aloud suddenly feeling another more powerful jolt.

  ELEVEN

  Jumping out of bed, I throw the door open and run towards Shep’s room banging on the door. Not caring I kick open the door looking around for him, hardly being able to focus with the constant jolts hitting me. Finally realizing he's not in his room I head downstairs. The jolts ease a bit as I near the front door.

  I stop noticing women and children standing around, fear clear on their faces. Anna approaches me as she catches sight of my confused look, "Werewolves have come onto our land, Shep had to go outside, he and the others are handling the wolves, he asked me to tell you sorry,” she explains pulling me over to the window.

  Nine people stand in a line, two women and seven men. The men include Shep, his brothers and Dad. Across from them on the edge of the woods are the "Werewolves.” Shep was right when he explained the difference between them, the werewolves, they look like crazed humans holding weapons of all sorts, covered in blood.

  It's a standoff, lycans against werewolves that's plainly clear. The werewolves are trying to judge whether it would be worth it to engage in a fight with the Lycans. Shep and his clan show no fear in the face of their enemy, none of them. None have weapons, but they seem so sure, so strong.

  After a moment, the werewolves growl in human form, but turn back into the woods from whence they came.

  "Mama look that one got away," a little boy points outside towards a stray werewolf that veered from its group heading towards the house.

  "Ladies take your children upstairs,” Anna yells. Everyone makes a mad dash for the stairs, everyone, that is, except Anna and I.

  Her hands shake as she grabs a fork from the table, "Why don't you let me handle this?" I move forward opening the front door and step outside. The line of lycans have just noticed the werewolf breaking the borders and move, but they will be too late.

  The werewolf climbs two steps at a time when his eyes meet mine, I notice the red specks in them, he asks no questions, gives no explanations, just charges at me. I learn two really important things, the first, werewolves are very stupid. The second, I may just enjoy being a member of this town, that is, if things stay this interesting.

  Kicking his legs out from under him the werewolf falls, hard. Using the moment of surprise, I wrap my arms around his neck, and squeeze, trying to get him to lose consciousness. He throws his body back forcing me to lose hold on him, but my reflexes prepare me for the hits that he tries to land on my body. I decide to end this, hitting him in the shin with my leg, I snap his leg, he screams in agony and I use that moment of distraction to grab his head and with one quick movement, snap it.

  Blowing the hair out of my face I turned back to the lycans, to see every single lycan staring at me, "Oh did you want this guy alive?" I question giving him a little kick.

  "I think I'm in love,” Ray mutters loud enough for everyone to hear.

  "4,783,” I repeat.

  He smirks, "Alright playing hard to get.”

  Glancing down at myself I realise some of the blood from the werewolf has gotten onto my shirt, "Oh come on,” I comment annoyed.

  Shep climbs the stairs, "What were you thinking you're what sixteen and nowhere near equipt to be killing people let alone werewolves?" He says looking at the dead werewolf. It just occurs to me, that this was it, my first kill. I always thought that it would be a vampire, but maybe, this is okay. Killing something equally or even worse than a vampire.

  "For your information I'm eighteen and you know I'm more than equipt I've been trained my entire life to kill vampires. Also next time you could just shout across the hall that you're planning to go downstairs, it's much more convenient and will save me from having large amounts of electricity jolt my body,” I shout looking at him annoyed.

  He takes a step closer to me, "Oh is that what I should do next time when werewolves decide to descend on the house let you know ahead of time and by the way vampires and werewolves are completely different species they should never be mixed into the same category. Furthermore, you promised not to do any hunting here,” he challenges.

  "Well I wouldn't have if your Mother hadn't decided that she was going up against it, with a fork,” I annoyingly yell at him.

  He looks surp
rised and then does something terrifying, he moves a stray piece of hair away from my face and behind my ear without even being able to tell what he was doing, "Well thank you then.” I look between us only another inch and we’d be kissing.

  We share a look, for just a moment, "Is everyone alright?” Anna asks, opening the front door, still holding the fork in her hand.

  "Everything is fine honey,” Shep's Dad climbs the stairs three at a time, coming to stand beside Anna.

  He gently pries the fork from her hand and kisses her cheek, "That's good, really good,” she murmurs leaning into him, hardly noticing the loss of her sacred weapon.

  "You must be Gemma?" a guy my age steps up to me.

  I nod, "That's me".

  "I'm Lex, these idiots brother,” he gestures toward the three brothers I have met. Awe he’s like a mini Shep

  Ray jumps up the steps putting his arm around Lex, "Gemma this is our sweet baby brother,” he corrects.

  "Please, just because I was born in this century doesn't warrant me with that title,” Lex scoffs, shaking Ray's hand off.

  "No but you are the prettiest of us all,” Charlie joins in joking.

  "Welcome to hell,” Lex mutters sarcastically as he moves past me into the house.

  Shep catches me off guard, lifting me up, throwing me over his shoulder. I scoff slapping his back as he charges up the stairs. He throws open his bedroom door, closes it fast, pushing me up against it, my legs instinctively wrap around his waist. Such a caveman

  He moves his head to my neck, and takes in my scent. His lips trailing up and down as he takes his time.