by Yana Guleva
“Oh, I told him to get some rest. He looks like crap.” I answered him. Both James and Kierce knew I was right. Tae really hasn’t eaten or slept on weeks.
“I’m glad you’re okay Amabel.” Kierce said to me. I looked up at him and fell into his eyes. They were filled with love and care. I could see that he wanted to spend some time with me. He also missed me these past few weeks, as I have missed him. I pictured the vision I had in my head. Everything seemed so wrong about it, but as I looked into Kierce’s eyes, it was so right. How could I possibly be in love with two men at once. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t going to happen. I knew soon enough, I would have to pick the one who I would spend the rest of my life with. As the last watcher, I only had one choice to make, and I had to make it only once.
“Would you like to go take a walk with me after we eat?” Kierce asked,
“Yeah, that sounds good.” I told him honestly. I wanted to get some fresh air, and Kierce seemed like the right person to do that with. I enjoyed spending time with Kierce, and I was looking forward to it now more since I really haven’t seen him in so long.
I ate my lunch quick, and was ready to get some fresh air.
“Well you were hungry, huh?” James asked me with a grin.
“Ha, ha. You try not eating for three weeks.” I said to him now laughing. I loved the sarcasm that James had. He always seemed to make a dull moment fun. “You ready?” I asked Kierce.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” He told me, and we walked out of the house for our walk. I didn’t know where we were going, but I honestly didn’t care.
I realized we headed towards the lake, and right now, it seemed like the best idea. The lake looked beautiful. I could see the sun glaring off of it, along with the reflection of the trees. It was warm outside, which told me spring was here. I could hear the birds chirping and it relaxed with such ease.
“Kierce, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, shoot.”
“Why did you break the law, when you know it means so much to me. You know I’m the last watcher and that breaking the law was no exception for me. how could you do such a thing?” I asked him with a slight anger in me. He noticed.
“Amabel, I didn’t mean to. I was in my hunting stage. I was so weak and feeing on animals didn’t satisfy me fully. I then caught a glimpse of the human that was nearby. I knew he was a tourist and I didn’t think twice. I didn’t kill him, just fed on him. He won’t be changed, nor he will even remember what happened to him. I followed all of the rules my father gave me when he was teaching me on how to be a real hunter. Of course I knew I shouldn’t have done it, and I realized the moment I did. I couldn’t help it though. I could smell his blood and… well, you know.” I could feel the sorrow within him. I knew he meant what he has said. I guess when being a hunter, and hunting for food wasn’t easy. It must have been hard to resist any other time, not to mention in the action of it.
“I understand.” I told him.
“You do?” He asked curiously.
“Yes, I do.” I didn’t know how I did, but I did. It was almost like I could feel myself in the same situation. Maybe it was because my connection with him was open at the time. Whatever it was though, I accepted Kierce’s answer. I believed him. “I hope you don’t do it again Kierce. I don’t know how I would control myself if it happened again. The anger overtook me. The watcher overtook me.”
“I know. I know it wasn’t really you trying to hurt me. I understand as well.” At that moment, I looked him in the eyes. He understood me, as well as I understood him. At this exact moment, I didn’t think of anyone else, or anything else. I could only see him and I. We continued walking along the lake, and suddenly went off our track into the woods. The feelings between Kierce and I were unbearable. It felt the same as when we first met. I wanted to hold him and feel his skin against mine. Kierce felt the same way. He grabbed my hand to stop me from walking and pulled me to him. He looked me in the eyes, and all I could see was the gold in his which matched perfectly with his blonde hair. There wasn’t a hint of darkness in him. I suddenly felt the tension between us. Nothing bad, but good. I felt the pull. Kierce put his hand under my chin, which soon after went up into my hair. I felt something blocking me from breathing. He leaned in closer to me, and his lips met mine. The electrifying pull grew stronger between us and all I felt was his lips against mine. I could picture us happy and holding hands. Both of us pale and in control of everything. How could this be? I didn’t know, but I enjoyed it. At this very moment, it felt like everything filled in. I felt my body tingle, as I wanted more. Our kiss has gotten more passionate, as we both allowed ourselves nothing more.
“We should get back.” I suddenly told Kierce, breaking off any pull we had at the moment. He looked at me in confusion, but I had no answers for him. I felt just as lost as him. Something wasn’t right. “We need to go, now. Something’s wrong.” I told him, and we raced back to the house.
As we came up to the wooden cabin that was just as a home for me as Tae, I felt a strong anger coming from inside. It was Tae’s. I realized I never turned off the connection between us. He just read everything that was going through my mind while in the electrifying pull with Kierce.
“This isn’t good.” I told Kierce, feeling sudden guilt and hurt. Before Kierce could ask me why, tae ran out of the house, and turned into what he knew best. The lycan that was filled with such soft black and white fur. At that moment, he wasn’t who I knew. He was far worse than that. Tae ran right towards Kierce, and bit his arm as if though it was in the way while he was trying to run away. I felt the pain Tae was feeling, while running away from what he loved as well as his home. I betrayed Tae in a way I never thought I would. Even though he knew I loved Kierce, he was not expecting me to feel what I have felt for him. At that moment, all the connection was lost. Tae has turned it off. He wanted nothing to do with me, now, all my attention was to Kierce. His arm filled with wounds from Tae’s teeth. He screamed in pain as I could hear his muscles ripping more and more. I could see Kierce’s blood escaping the wounds.
“Amabel, help him! He’s going to bleed out!” I heard James scream, as he was running over to Kierce.
“I.. I don’t know how.” I told him. My mind ran with so much thoughts that I couldn’t focus on healing Kierce. I as well, ran over to him. I noticed how bad it has gotten, and my eyes filled with tears. “This is all my fault. It’s always my fault.” I cried out.
“You can’t think of it that way Amabel, please help him before it’s too late.” James told me. My full attention was on Kierce now. I sat down next to him while my eyes filled with tears. I pictures the moment we just had and how much love and attraction I had towards him. My tears dropped onto his arm, and I could see them burning his wounds. Kierce cried in pain, but I knew it was working. I no longer needed to put any energy into him, he was healing from my tears. Without a hesitation though, I slightly pulled some energy out of me, and pushed it towards his arm. I at least owned him that much.
“That’s enough Amabel. He’ll be okay.” James told me.
“James, what have I done.” I told him, with tears still escaping me.
“You couldn’t help it Amabel. It’s okay. It will be okay.”
“How could you say that though? I betrayed Tae. You don’t know what I was thinking.”
“It’s done now Amabel.” He told me, as he came closer to me and tried to comfort me. It wasn’t working. “Let’s get him inside, I have a story to tell you.” He told me. James picked Kierce up and brought him inside. I could see he was going to be okay now, and I felt a slight tension release me.
“What did you want to tell me?” I asked James curious now. Anything that could get this off my mind would be nice. We came out into the living room and sat by the fireplace.
“I know you love Tae as well as Kierce Amabel, but I had an incident kind of similar to yours. Well, not kind of, less from that.” He told me, looking upset now. This was something serious,
and I could tell by the look in his eyes. He looked down at the fireplace and continued with the story. “There was once a lycan I loved. Her name was Angela. I loved her greatly and would do anything for her. I didn’t know she was a lycan at first, but later found out. This amazed me and I thought nothing would tear us apart. One day, I found a girl in danger. She was being attacked by an animal. Well, the creature I am, I saved her. Soon to find out, I bonded to this small innocent girl. Her name was Lilah. Such a beautiful face, and heart. We shared great love, and had much in common, even though we were nothing alike. Angela knew my love for the human was much greater than hers, and that it was by nature, not exactly my choice. She greatly hated that. I took Lilah away, hoping Angela would leave us be, but she didn’t. I woke up one day to Lilah lying dead. I could smell Angela all over her body. Ever since then, my heart has been empty, and I have never seen the lycan again. She killed the one I was bonded to, knowing how greatly the pain will be. She was completely heartless, and to this day, I dream of Lilah’s face, hoping one day I will see her once more. But.. I knew that’s not the fact.” How horrible. The one he bonded to was killed by someone he loved. This actually seemed like something that would happen with me. Of course I hope I hope it won’t. I couldn’t even think of the pain I would feel if I lost he one I truly loved. I shivered at the thought.
“I’m so sorry James. Will you ever bond to another girl?”
“No, that will never happen. When a lycan bonds, he is only bonded to that one. After then, he will do anything, and kill anyone to protect her.” James told me. This made sense why tae would want to kill Kierce, but he didn’t. He saved his life. All he did was hurt him. Tae knew how I felt about Kierce and he wouldn’t want to bring me that much pain by killing him.
“James, this is horrible. I feel so much.. pain for you.” I had no words.
“Don’t. It’s long over with.” He told me. But I could still see the pain in his face, like it just happened the other day. He will never forget Lilah, the human he bonded with. As well as Tae will never forget me, if I made a choice not to be with him.
“Are you telling me this to explain Tae’s actions?”
“Yes, as well as how he would feel if you chose not to bond with him, because not bonding with him would be just as bad as you dying.” James was right, and I knew that.
We stayed quiet for a few hours, just sitting by the fireplace. I started wondering about my parents and if they were okay. I felt as if they were, but I didn’t want to risk of calling them. I didn’t want anyone to know where they were, as well as me. Thinking of it, I think I was more furious with my mother for keeping so much from me. As time went by, there was more and more she hid that I knew now. My mind wondered through all the thoughts in my mind. About Kierce and how things would turn our if I decided to be with him. Also, my brother, and how I felt horrible for what has happened to him. Of course, about Tae, and wondering where he was. Hoping he wouldn’t do anything so selfish and hurt us all by his actions.
“How did you say you stayed a lycan?” I suddenly asked James. All his thoughts disappeared as he looked at me with confusion. “Well you said you weren’t always a lycan. How again did you say you stayed this way?” He saw that I was getting to something.
“Well, I stayed near hunters for too long. The two together, makes us stay a lycan. If we’re around them for too long, we continue being a lycan until we know no watcher is in danger, and well, if there are no watchers left, then it’s us protecting the human kind.”
“What? Do you guys would take over if I wasn’t a watcher? Well, if I died?”
“Yes, because without a watcher, all that there is left is us.”
“Okay, but what if you don’t stay near hunters for a while, would you continue with your life?” I started getting more curious.
“Yes, we would go on I suppose. But we would keep anything a lycan has. For example, the bonding.” This was interesting. Something I did not know.
“What if I turned into a hunter? What would happen then?” I asked. James looked at me in confusion.
“Well, if you harmed any human, we would have to kill you. But you wouldn’t turn into a hunter, you’re the last watcher Amabel.” He told me with fierce eyes.
“No I know. I’m just wondering.” I assured him, and his eyes released any tension they held. “So.. do you know if Tae will stay like this all the time?” I asked him. If he did, how could I be with him? I couldn’t possibly imagine just getting rid of Kierce, and if I bonded to Tae, that means I would grow while he stayed handsome throughout all the years. I guess the only option left, if to stay away from hunters, but me being the last watcher. How would this be possible?
“I don’t know Amabel. I don’t know what his limit is on staying a lycan until he can’t go back being a human anymore.” James answered me. This didn’t make things better, but it didn’t matter. I shouldn’t think about this right now. I had more to worry about. I needed to stop Luthius from trying to kill me or change me for that matter. I liked where I stranded right now. I liked being the last watcher.
Without saying anymore, we simply fell asleep where we sat. It felt like sleeping for three weeks did no good. I was as good as anyone else tired right now.
“Amabel.” I heard someone say. “Amabel.” They repeated themselves. “Who is it?” I asked. Furious that they never reveal themselves. “It’s your father. Listen carefully.” My father? “The only way to enhance your abilities and gain my powers, you will need to read within yourself, while near a stagger.” What?” Does this mean it’s time for me to gain your powers?” I asked him. Not even thinking on how he was talking to me right now. “Read within yourself while near a stagger.” He repeated himself. I now knew he wasn’t directly talking to me. This was from my childhood. Again, he repeated himself. “Read within yourself.” I heard, and my mind went black.
I woke up the next morning leaning back in the chair I fell asleep in the night before. I couldn’t believe what my father has told me. How could I possibly try to read into myself and find the powers around the staggers. They never gave us a break last time. All I could think of doing is using the abilities I had within me already. Anything that else that happened to come out was with pure accident.
I looked over and saw James now waking up in the chair next to me.
“Oh damn, did we fall asleep like this?” He asked me yawning with a stretch fallowed after.
“Yeah, I guess so. I wonder how Kierce is doing and if Tae came back.”
“I’ll go check on Kierce, see if Tae is back.” He told me. I did as he said. I got up and checked around the house as well as outside, but there was no sign of Tae. Not a single familiar scent of him, or any emotions that fallowed him. I came back in the house with James standing in confusion.
“Tae isn’t here.”
“Neither is Kierce.”
“Do you think they’re okay?
“I hope so. Tae is probably just hiding and Kierce went out hunting.” James told me. it made sense, and I hope he was right. I tried contacting them both, but failed. I again tried to open the connection with Tae first, then Kierce and again, failed both times.
“Anything?” James asked me. Knowing what I was trying to do.
“No, not a thing.” I said with disappointment. “James, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Well, last night, I had a dream.. of my father. He was talking to me. He told me to enhance my powers while being.. around the staggers.” James looked at me in amazement. I didn’t know if his reaction was towards the fact that I talked to my father, or what he has told me.
“Amabel, how are you supposed to do that? You will be.. defenseless if you’re trying to enhance something while they’re trying to attack.” I got my answer on that one. “How are you talking to him though?”
“Well, I’m guessing it’s from when I was a little girl. I had visions with Tae from then as well. It’s almost like I’m remembering
pieces of my life in my dreams.”
“Well, I guess that makes sense.” He told me, but not looking like he got his answer.
“Actually, Tae told me he was the one putting them into my mind. He wanted me to know what has happened when I was a little girl before he came into my life.”
“Are you trying to say our father is alive?” He asked me. I didn’t even know what I was trying to say.
“I don’t know. I think someone is doing this though.” I answered him honestly.
Chapter Thirteen – Massacre
With Tae still gone, I kept trying to contact him. It felt as if Tae completely shut me off and wanted nothing to do with me. I knew that wasn’t the case though. He would never just disappear. If anything, he left to get some time alone. Time from me.
It has been a couple of days now, and Kierce has healed fine. Just a few spots on his arms indicating the teeth marks. James of course kept trying to get me to practice on my abilities, but it didn’t feel right without Tae being here. I wouldn’t have full concentration anyways.
“Amabel.” I heard my brother calling me from outside. Honestly, I don’t think I have even left the house the past few days. I’ve been trying so hard to contact Tae that nothing else even mattered right now.
“Yes.” I answered him.
“Come out here.” I heard him tell him and I did as he said. I walked outside to Kierce and James sitting in the few chairs we had out here. They surrounded a fire pit, which was never used before. Maybe tonight would be the night.
“What’s up?” I asked him.
“I want to tell you more about our father.” He told me. This was interesting. What else would I need to know about him, besides that he abandoned his own son.
“He’s not a bad guy you know. I don’t want to leave that as your last opinion of him. He’s a good guy, too good.” I could tell James wanted me to know more, I just didn’t know if I wanted to listen. “Our father, Carver, was the best man I knew. I remember as I was growing up, he treated our mother like an angel. That’s all he thought of her. He treasured her, as well as me. We were the happiest family. Him as a watcher, well.. he was even better. He did his job well. He knew when a hunter broke the watchers’ law, and it was like he sniffed him down and took him out before the hunter had another chance to attack a human.”