by Yana Guleva
“What do you mean? What are they?” I asked out loud. I didn’t know what these things were. They were stronger, and completely hideous. They’re called Staggers! They’re not like the rest of the hunters. They are vampires straight from hell! He screamed in my mind. The name or the ugliness didn’t bother me. I guess their teeth gave them the name. They looked like kitchen knives. Sharp and silver. I needed to help Tae and James. I couldn’t just stand here. Before I could do anything, I heard Tae howl in pain. They tore completely into his arm. I could see the flesh through his skin, and the blood pouring out of his arm. I couldn’t bear the howl. The pain he had. The pain that I felt he had. I could feel my tears rising in my eyes. These staggers will get revenge. Without any rain, without any lightning, I took my own energy and pushed it towards the stagger that hurt Tae. As he flew up in the air, and hit the tree, he lit on fire. I see Tae weak but still fighting. James and him are watching each other, and tearing the staggers apart. With another force of energy from my body, I pushed it towards a stagger that was on top of Tae, and he flew off exploding in the air. I felt a chilly flow throughout my body, and saw a glow surrounding me. The next stagger I saw, I tried pushing out more energy towards him. This time it wasn’t a bolt that blew him up or burnt him. A bright yellow light came out of my hands, and pushed the stagger thought out the woods. It tore down hundreds of trees. I put down my hands when I could see him no more. I once again looked at Tae and James, and they were growling as lycans at the last few staggers. Without them approaching them, they turned around, and ran off. With the chill in my body still remaining and the light around me, Tae and James took notice. They looked at each other and back at me. As they changed back into human, I felt as if I still needed to fight. I still needed to get this all out.
“Get it out Amabel!” I heard James scream. “It will kill you if you keep it in you for too long!” James screamed. I didn’t know how. I could feel it circling within my body, but I could not get rid of it. I needed to shoot it out, at a hunter, or stagger, anyone but thin air.
“I can’t!” I screamed back.
“Shoot it at me!” Tae commanded me.
“No! I’d keep it in and die before I did that!”
“Shoot it at me Amabel!”
“No!” I screamed. Instead of letting it out on Tae or anything around me. I screamed in pain as I felt it tear up my insides.
“What is it doing to her?” Tae screamed to James.
“She took out an ability that should only be used in extreme danger. Something she should have never taken out today!” James answered Tae.
“What should we do? How are we going to stop it?” Tae asked worried.
“We can’t. Only she can.” James told him, looking at me. With nothing left to do, and only feeling the pain of the power tearing me inside. I screamed like I have never screamed before. I felt the wind pick up, and the trees almost blown to the ground. I could see Tae and James dropping to the ground. Holding themselves down. All I did was scream. The leaves blowing off their trees are hitting everything in sight. In complete and total pitch blackness, I was making light. Screaming every last breath out, I stopped with nothing left inside me. Falling to my knees, I looked over at Tae. He ran over to me and held me before I completely dropped.
“Amabel, breathe!” I heard him scream, but it sounded faint though my ears. I.. can’t.. breathe. I told him through my mind, not able to speak. As Tae’s eyes filled with tears, I fell completely into his arms.
“I.. love you.” I forced myself to say. If this was it, then those were going to be my last words.
“Amabel, please. Find it within you to breathe! Force it!” He screamed. Yet again, I only heard it in faint. Everything around Tae seemed to get darker, and all I could see were his eyes. With a few more seconds left, I would be gone. I looked at Tae one last time, and slowly fell into sleep.
“Amabel” I heard someone say. “Turn back.” I couldn’t see anyone, nor even knew where I was. Everything was so bright. “Who is it?” I asked. “I am no one you need to worry about. Close your eyes my Amabel, and think of love. Go back to your loved ones.” The voice told me. Was I dreaming?” I don’t understand.” I told the voice. “Where am I?” I couldn’t see a thing. It felt like I was just staring into a light and my vision was blurred. “You being the last watcher, we give you one more chance.” The voice said. “One more chance.” It repeated itself quietly. “What do you mean? What happened to me?” I asked. This was definitely a dream. “You may not use the powers of Carver until it is time. You may not repeat the same mistake twice. When the time comes, you may use his powers. Until then, stick to your own.” The voice told me. “I don’t understand. You’re telling me I’m using my father’s powers?” I asked, with more curiosity now. “You may not use Carver’s powers, as they are not yours to keep yet. Complete the last steps as a watcher, and you may use them at your will.” The voice told me, but I still didn’t understand. “Why aren’t you answering me? I didn’t mean to use his powers. And what do you mean they’re not mine yet? What other steps do I have to finish?” I asked the voice back. Hoping I’d get an answer. “You may not use Carver’s powers, as they are not yours to keep yet. Complete the last steps as a watcher, and you may use them at your will.” The voice repeated itself, more faintly now. “We give you one last chance, as you are the last watcher. Close your eyes, and think of your loved ones.” The voice told me once more. Without hesitation or any more questions. I did as it said. I closed my eyes tightly, and pictured Tae. I thought about Kierce, my mother, and how I have James now. With that, their faces ran through my mind. The memories I had with them filled me with emotions. Love, lust, pain. I lightly put a smile on, and faded into yet another sleep.
When I woke up, I was in Tae’s bed. I loved the coziness of his house. I missed the feeling of being warm under his covers. He always let me sleep in here, and usually slept on the couch in the next room. I appreciated that he did that for me, as well as for everything else.
“Will she come back to us?” I heard Kierce ask.
“I don’t know.” Tae answered him, in a voice I’ve never heard. It sounded depressed, and in pain. I couldn’t feel anything he did though. That was strange. I finally decided to get out of bed to hug everyone tightly. I felt like I haven’t seen them in weeks. As I tried to open my eyes, I couldn’t. They felt too heavy for me to move. I tried lifting my hand, and again failed.
“She’s been in a coma for too long.” James said. A coma? How was I in a coma? Tae I’m right here! I tried screaming to him in his mind. I got no response. That explains why I can’t feel his feelings. I figured if I could open the connection, he will hear me again. As I tried to focus on Tae, and trying to contact him, I realized I was too weak. It was a like a road block, and wouldn’t let me though. Oh how I wanted to let them know I was okay.
“Can you guys just leave her with me.” Tae told Kierce and James. They did as he asked. I heard the room door open and close. “Oh my Amabel. If only you didn’t use that power. If only you stuck to your abilities. You would be awake right now ready to eat dinner with us. I miss you so much.” Tae said to me, picking up my hand and squeezing it tight. “I wish I could have helped you. I just let you slip right in my arms.” He added, now in tears. He sobbed in my ear, still holding my hand. I wish I could tell him I was okay, and I was right here. “I love you so much Amabel, oh I can’t tell you how much this hurts.” He said, crying even more now. I tried to open my eye lids, to at least let him know I could hear him, but failed. They were too heavy, and I had no energy at all. It killed me to hear him crying like that. “I can’t live without you my love. Come back to me Amabel. Come back to me.. please.. come back..” He said, with his voice cracking and getting quieter. There wasn’t a single thing I could do to let him know I was here. With trying so much to make any movement, I failed and became even more weak. I now could no longer stay awake, and fell back into sleep. The only thing I could really manage to do.
“It’s been weeks now. When will she come back?” I heard Kierce ask Tae.
“She might not.” He answered him.
“What do you mean she might not?” James now asked.
“That’s exactly what I mean. Her being the last watcher or not. She is still human, and with her putting out as much power as she had in her, overwhelmed her. You know this James. You know she might never wake up.” Tae said angrily, and I heard him walk out of the room.
“James, can I have some time alone with her?” Kierce asked James.
“Yes of course.” He told him, as he walked up to me, lightly kissed me on the forehead and left the room as well.
“Amabel, I know I made you angry before. I know I did what I shouldn’t have done. You need to know, I love you. I’ve always loved you. My father sent me here to lure you in, but as the fool I am, I fall in love.” Kierce said to me with a slight giggle yet sadness in his voice. “It feels like I have waited for someone like you all my life. Ever since a little boy, I used to look at my father and mother so deeply in love. I always hoped to have the same thing. My father, just like me, fell in love with a watcher. The watcher, who was my mother, loved him back and agreed to get changed. Can you believe that? She loved him so much that she was going to get changed into one of us to stay with him. She lost all her powers, and one day, the other watchers killed her. They had no remorse. She never bit a human my father told me. Yet they still slaughtered her like they would anyone else. Ever since then, my father could not stand a single watcher, and destroyed every one of them. Besides you. I wish he’d understand how much I love you, but I guess he doesn’t. He just wants you alive and as a hunter so you could come in handy. Since you are the last watcher and all. I hope that never happens. If you ever decide to change. I hope it’s only for me.” I can’t believe this. His mother was a watcher? And why would her own kind kill her? Well, I guess that was because she was no longer their kind. I wanted to answer Kierce so bad, and ask him more, but couldn’t. Nothing came out of my mouth and my eye lids were still too heavy to open. Hating the fact that I can’t let anyone know I’m right here, I forced at least my finger to move. I failed, but I tried again. I felt a slight nerve go through me, and I finally moved a single finger.
“Amabel? Did you just….” Kierce said in surprise. I tried again to move my finger, and this time it was more than just one. “Oh my god, you did. Oh Amabel, I knew you’d wake up. I knew it! Tae! James! She’s awake!” Kierce screamed in excitement. He took my hand and squeezed it tightly. “It’s okay my love, I know you’re here. You can rest now. Soon you’ll be up in no time.” He told me. I heard Tae and James running in the room.
“What happened?” Tae asked.
“She’s awake! She moved her fingers. She’s awake!” Kierce screamed in excitement.
“Oh thank goodness. It’s okay Amabel, sweetie. Get some rest.” I heard my brother say.
“Amabel, can you really hear us?” Tae asked. I again, moved my fingers. I wanted Tae to come closer so I could feel his skin. “Oh my Amabel!” Tae yelled, running to me. He grabbed my hand and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. “I can’t believe this. Oh Amabel.” He said softly, and I could hear him rise into tears. “I thought I lost you.” He told me in a whisper. I didn’t want him feeling like this, but I had no choice but to rest right now. Knowing that my loved ones think I’m alright now, I relaxed my muscles and my mind traveled elsewhere. Somewhere unimaginable.
I could see Tae looking at me, with such anger within him. His eyes narrowed, and his eyebrows closed in. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but nothing came out. I looked over to my side, hoping it wasn’t me he was looking at that way, and saw Kierce. His smile wide, while he looked at me instead of Tae. I noticed I wasn’t wearing my usual clothing. It was strange. Something a hunter would wear. I had black leather pants on with a tight shirt that showed off my chest. I noticed my hands and they weren’t my usual color either. They were pale, just like Kierce’s. I looked back at Tae with such fear, and saw my reflection in his eyes. I looked like pale stone. I was not human. I was a hunter. Was this really happening? Have I picked Kierce to be with? How could this be? I loved Kierce very much but I would never give up being a watcher. I was the only one left to make peace on this world. Without me, hunters would roam free and do whatever they please. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t happening. Please let this be a dream that would never come true. You abandoned me. I heard Tae say without moving his mouth. He was still able to contact me through his mind. What do you mean Tae? I asked him. You abandoned me! You chose him over me! You chose someone so pathetic over someone you were supposed to bonded with! This wasn’t supposed to happen! He screamed in my mind. No, this didn’t happen. This wasn’t true.
Chapter Twelve - Lust and Hate
“Tae!” I woke up screaming. I was back into the place I remembered. Tae’s home, my home. I started crying, picturing what I have just dreamed. I couldn’t believe such a thing could happen. Me reacting this way made me think I wanted to be more with Tae than anyone. I felt like I wouldn’t be complete without him.
“Amabel! Are you okay?” I heard Tae screaming, running into the room. Of course it was Tae that would catch the voice of my sound first. He was bonded to me. Without me, he would be completely empty. No emotions, no life. So how could I possibly do such a thing to him and change into a hunter? I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. What if I did though?
“Yes Tae.” I answered, with tears rolling down my cheeks.
“What happened? Does something hurt?”
“No Tae.” I told him.
“Then, why are you crying.” He asked me more worried now.
“Just a dream. I’m okay.”
“Well I’m glad you’re okay my love. You’re finally awake. Can you fully move?” He asked me. With that, I tried to slowly get up and it came with ease. I had no problem moving or talking. I was fully recovered.
“How long have I been out?” I asked him. Curious on how long I really have been sleeping since even the last time I heard them talking to me.
“About three weeks, I believe. It has felt longer than that, so I kind of lost track.”
“You look like hell.” I told him. He really did. He had bags under his eyes like he hasn’t slept for days. His cheeks were sunk in, and his face had a pale look to it.
“I know. I.. haven’t been eating or sleeping normal. That’s all.” I knew there was more to it, but I really didn’t want to make this any worse. I was okay now, and wanted Tae to get some rest.
“Listen, I’m okay now, really. I had plenty of rest. I’m going to go eat something and I think you need to get some rest.” I told him. Hoping he would listen to me.
“Yes, you’re right. I’m glad you’re alright Amabel. I’ve been… so worried.”
“I know, everything will be okay now though. Get some rest.” I told him, giving him a slight kiss on his cheek. It felt amazing feeling his skin against mine. It was almost electrifying. I got up off the bed completely, and headed out the door. I looked back at Tae, and focused on his eyes. He looked so restless, I just wanted him to be okay. “Sleep, I will come back to visit you soon. It’s your turn to feel better now.” I told him with a smile. He gave me a faint smile back, and laid down on the bed holding the pillow I was just sleeping on.
I came out into the kitchen to Kierce and James up on their feet staring at the room. I was wondering if Tae took all responsibility on caring for me that they just kind of stayed on the side, hoping I was okay every time I woke up.
“Hey guys.” I said to them, smiling. They look like they’ve seen a ghost.
“Amabel!” Kierce screamed, running to me and taking me into his arms. “We heard you scream, but didn’t dare to go in there. Tae has been checking up on you constantly. Actually, today was the first day in the past week he even left the room. How are you feeling?”
“I’m.. feeling good. Much better. Just hungry.” I told him.
“One
step ahead of you sis.” James said. “Come here, give me a hung. I’ve missed you. Tae wouldn’t let your own blood go in there.” He told me laughing.
“Really?” I asked. Hugging my brother back. It felt good to finally be awake and being able to control everything again. I felt helpless not being able to move, or even talk.
“Yeah, he was a little too overprotected.” Kierce added. I knew Tae loved me, and no way he was going to let anything else happen to me. He’d kill anyone who even breathed the wrong way near me. I laughed silently in my head.
“So what’s to eat?” I asked them. Anxious to eat a full course meal.
“Got some juicy hamburgers made up for you!” James told me. As much as I didn’t like to eat meat, I couldn’t wait to have some. Not eating for a few weeks made me lose too much weight. I needed to be ready for whatever else was going to come. I knew Luthius wouldn’t stop at that. He wouldn’t stop at anything.
“Thanks, I really need it. Anything for that matter.” I told James as I sat down to eat with them.
“Where’s Tae?” Kierce asked me curiously.