by Yana Guleva
“Did he kill Kierce’s mother?” I asked curiously, forgetting that he was even sitting next to us.
“No. He told us about the incident, and he felt such remorse when he found out she was gone. He understood how love worked and she was no threat to him as long as she didn’t attack any humans. Therefore he didn’t touch her, or even think about it. Of course other watchers didn’t care. Carver though, he was something different. He didn’t believe in the fact that I was a lycan. He didn’t understand why I was chosen that path, no one did. He abandoned me but deep down, I knew he would always be there if I needed him. Before I actually needed him, he died. I was there that night. I was helping our father, as long as your mother and Tae. The hunters attacked, and they attacked good. He protected you with everything he had in him and before he died, he sent all his powers to you and laughed in the hunter’s face as his slowly bled out. Our mother was terrified, but she knew there was nothing she could do. Your father now, Richard, was there. He was helpless, and comforted your mother. He as well is a good man. He took care of both you with no second thought.” As James was telling me this, I could see the pain in his, and how he missed our father. With that, I knew he meant it and much more. He didn’t need to tell me anymore than he already has.
“I understand James. I understand.” I told him, slowly coming up to him and putting my hand on his shoulder. I stood there and watched him for a few minutes until Kierce made a movement.
“Do you mind if I have a talk with you?” Kierce asked me. With that, I lifted my hand off of James, and came to sit down next to Kierce.
“Go ahead.” I told him. Wanting to get all the talking out right now.
“What happened in the woods… was amazing. I have felt more at that one minute, then I have my whole life. Surely, it hasn’t been that long, but I know enough to tell you… that I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” I looked at Kierce, and he looked back at me with such remorse.
“I know.”
“I have never, or will ever make the wrong decision again Amabel. I want you to know that.”
“I know.” I repeated.
“Please, if I still have a chance in this. Please, think hard on who you chose. I know Tae is bonded to you, but I love you with all of my immortality.” This was deeper than any other words he’s told me. I wanted to run away in tears, but just sat here, silent, wordless. It wasn’t time for me to decide. Not yet. I shook my head at him, and looked away towards the trees. I could see the sun trying to get by all the leaves on the tall trees, and at one spot, one single spot, it did. Would I be able to get by that one little spot that’s making me so torn in between Tae and Kierce? I hope so. I couldn’t hurt them both for much longer.
A few more days have passed by and still no sign of Tae. This wasn’t like him, at all. Every bad thought in my mind ran by. What if fell off a cliff or what if a hunter killed him? What if he attacked a human by accident or something stupid. No, I couldn’t think that way. I knew he would be okay. He was smart and strong enough to know better. He would never want to hurt me like that. As the days went by, Kierce tried getting closer to me, but I denied him in every way. I wanted to call him selfish to act that way when Tae was missing. Of course though, he didn’t think there was anything wrong. All he wanted to do was just talk to me. Something told me otherwise. I felt Tae in danger, but couldn’t out my finger on it.
Amabel, Amabel my love. It was Tae! Oh Tae, where are you? Are you okay? You’ve been driving me crazy! I miss you, come back to me! I screamed to him in my head. I know. I’m sorry. Meet me somewhere. Of course I would! Yes, anywhere. I told him. Meet me at Kierce’s aunt’s house. She’s not there, but it’s the closest place I could think of. That was weird, but I didn’t second guess it. Yes, I’ll be there! I screamed to him and suddenly ran into the house to get fully dressed. Kierce and James looked confused at my action, but watched me run around like a maniac and didn’t ask a question.
“I need to meet Tae somewhere. Bye!” I screamed to them, and started running. I knew it would take a while but didn’t care. I could hear Kierce and James behind me, but didn’t think much of it. Even if they were talking to me, I wouldn’t hear them. All I thought about was Tae and that I would finally see him. I wanted to throw my arms around him and slap him at the same time. I ran faster than I even knew I could.
I could see the house now. It was the last one at the drive way. I could feel how close I was to Tae, and continued to run. I saw tae step out of the woods and my heart filled with joy.
“Tae!’ I screamed to him with excitement. Something was wrong. He didn’t seem excited, or even pleased to see me.
“Amabel.” He said lightly. I was now about to finally reach him, and Luthius walked out of the same spot from the woods. It was a trap.
“Tae, how could you?” I told him, now fully coming to a stop. “You tricked me.”
“It wasn’t my fault. I tried so hard not to let you in. Once he realized you were trying to contact me, he over took my mind and spoke though me. This blood sucker has greater powers than I could have imagined.” Tae told me, with tears rising in his eyes.
“Well, well, well. Look what we have here.” Luthius spoke.
“How dare you!” I screamed back at him.
“Listen little girl. I don’t need this, and don’t want to waste any more time playing these games. I am going to kill this filthy lycan, if you don’t surrender.” He gave me a choice to make. I looked deeply into Tae’s eyes, and in a way, I knew he told me not to. This wasn’t a choice for me. In his eyes, what’s one lycan compared to the last watcher. He wanted me alive, and protecting the human kind. I couldn’t see it though. To me, it was one human against another. What was more important to me now. The person I truly love, or me. It was Tae. Everything was about Tae. Without him, there would be no watcher, there would be no more me.
“I will not, allow a damn hunter, let me make a choice about anything. I want you to leave.. me.. alone!” I screamed. At that moment, Tae knew. He knew that I wasn’t going to give him up for anything and there was no stopping me. I looked behind me, and saw James and Kierce running up.
“My own son?” I heard Luthius ask. He saw that Kierce was on my side.
“I love her father. You should know how much love means to the hunters. You had love once, why can’t you let me have mine.” Kierce talked back to his father.
“My own son betrayed me. Of course you would fall in love with the watcher. The killer of our kind!” Luthius yelled back.
“Do you remember mom? She was a watcher too!”
“Yes, but she changed for me! Her..” As he looked at me. “..She will never change for you!” Luthius screamed in horror. Even though as much as Kierce knew I probably wouldn’t. He didn’t care. He loved me, and he would stand by my side until he couldn’t any longer.
“Well, then have fun with my puppies.” Luthius said with laughter that was filled with pure hate. It was only the four of us against his puppies. The staggers. Without bringing anymore commotion to the street, we looked at each other and ran. We ran deep into the woods so no one would hear us or make any assumptions. I still had to protect the humans, and this town was my home. No one would be hurt on my watch. We finally came to a stop, ready for the attack. It was Kierce on left, Tae on my right followed by James. The four of us were as ready as any other time.
“Let’s make this a simple joke.” I told them, and we all agreed. Without a doubt in my mind, I smiled and heard the staggers running at us. “They didn’t get enough last time.” I said laughing. I felt the power run though out my body. I felt the hatred towards the staggers, and how sick I was of them. Their gray and slimy figures ran through my mind, and I got stronger by the second. I caused another storm. Rain, thunder, lightning. I will use everything in my will at this moment. I had no time to read within in me, so I was going to use whatever I could. As soon as I seen the first stagger, I threw a jolt of power towards it, and he flew back with another following hi
m.
Tae and James were now fully transformed and attacked the next two hunters that came close. I could see their teeth ripping them apart. Another stagger came forward and Kierce took this one. I have never seen him fight before. He was fast and eager to kill them. These were not his kind, therefore he felt nothing for killing them. He easily put the stagger in a choke hold and snapped his neck. He then ran over to Tae and helped destroy the stagger that was attacking him at the moment. I myself again used my powers. These creatures came out left and right. With that, I sent a bolt of energy towards each one. I crushed some with a simple gesture of my fist and burnt other on sight. I heard Tae let out a painful howl. He was hurt, but still fighting. He looked more weaker by the minute. James tore apart every creature that ran at him, as well as Kierce. The scene was now nothing but a massacre. There was blood splattered on the ground, followed by the trees around us. I was so sick of these things coming attacking the ones I loved. I wanted the watcher to come in within me, but it did not.
I simply used the abilities I was capable of using, and it was enough for now. More blood was flying in the air, and I was now covered with it fully. There wasn’t an inch of my body that was clean. I could see the white in Tae’s fur, bright red. I didn’t know whether it was the stagger’s blood, or theirs. There were less staggers left now. Either we killed them or they ran away didn’t really matter right now. I wanted this over with. Every minute meant one of my loved ones could be more hurt.
Suddenly, I noticed movement off to the side. Even as dark the storm has made it here in the woods, it was still day time. It was Luthius and Argem. I cringed at the thought of them. They did not look like monsters, but deep down, they were. They came here to end the fight. To end us all. No hunter really fought in a war. They always sent their dogs to take care of it. Their dogs, in this case, were the staggers. As Luthius stepped back, Argem enjoyed coming into the fight. He as well, was fast and strong. James was stronger. They fought with such hatred. I could see James struggling though. Argem grabbed him in a certain position that James couldn’t get out of. I quickly looked over at Tae, and he as well, was struggling, but Kierce was there helping him. How could this be. The ones I loved once again fought for me. If anything happened to any of them, it would destroy me completely. It would destroy everything.
I looked over back at James, and he was still struggling to get out of Argem’s grip. I heard his howling, and it was a sign of pain. His bones were being broken by the second. My own brother dying in front of my eyes. I took all the will and power I had, and threw a source of energy at Argem. It hit him backwards, but nothing more. He was prepared more this time since the hit worked at him at the old factory. It didn’t seem right. It should have at least knocked him hard enough to cringe or feel pain. I looked back down at James, as he was looking at Luthius. With a single throw of his arms, Luthius send a strange source of energy towards James. He howled in more pain.
“No!” I screamed. James was now changed back into human. Blood on every part of his body. His arms unable to move. He looked me in the eyes, with a single tear rolling down his cheek. Soon after, he closed his eyes. “James!” I screamed again, now in tears. I ran over to him tripping on everything in sight. As I reached him, I knew it was too late. He was gone. Completely gone.
“You killed him! You killed my own blood!” I screamed. Luthius looked at me with a smile. He knew exactly what he has just done. I felt abhorrence rise up in me. I stood up, with more than just tears making my vision blurred. I saw a glow of light that was now surrounding me. With a single scream, I pushed back any stagger that was still attacking Tae and Kierce. I now focused only on Luthius. He knew what was coming to him. The staggers of course ran away as before and Luthius was now left alone with Argem.
“I see. Well, this is only the beginning.” He told me.
“Not a chance.” I said. Before I could fully bring my thoughts together, Luthius was gone, as well as Argem. I was once again, left here, with the power within in. This time, I had a different thought. If I only used the power to heal James. To bring him back to life. With such pain and the power tearing me apart, I screamed and forced it all towards James. His body looked electrified, as it rose of the ground slightly. Nothing happened though. No power left within me, and James was not alive. I sat there next to him, rising up in tears. I knew that nothing could bring him back. I put my head down near his shoulder.
“I didn’t even get to know him yet.” I said out loud, closing my eyes.
Chapter Fourteen – Wedding
I woke up screaming the next morning. I could see my brother dying behind my eyes. The terror I had, the pain I felt. It was unbearable. I couldn’t bear to lose anyone else. I felt myself choking over the thought that anything else could happen.
“How could I have let James die.” I whispered to myself. There wouldn’t be another accident like this. No one would be put in danger because of me. No one. I could hear Tae and Kierce snoring in the other room. They were healing by themselves I’m guessing. I didn’t really remember how bad they were hurt. Nothing compared to James’s death right now. I knew what I had to do. This time for sure, no one would stop me. I got dressed for the day and left the house before anyone noticed I woke up.
I tried to use some of my natural watcher’s abilities. I had to figure out how exactly to get to Luthius. I had a slight vision of a house, a mansion would be more like it. I felt Lithius’s sense, as well as Argem’s and planned to follow it. It would be impossible to get there without a vehicle. I decided to walk to my old house, my parents’ house, and take one of the cars. For my luck of course, they took both of them when they left. I headed off through the woods, soon coming to the familiar lake. From there, I knew how to get into the main road now. I recognized the familiar road and the houses on it. I walked straight to my house, which was originally the opposite of my school. I remembered Vessa and Zayley. How I had so much fun with them. I then suddenly felt unease, thinking that I was probably killed or something after disappearing from the night at the store with Zayley. How did they react to this? I know I would have gotten crazy. A girl disappeared in a small town, soon after, her parents. I could just see the headline news. I really hoped that wasn’t the case, and my parents told Zayley I was on a trip to see my grandmother or something.
I now came up to my house, and luckily, my father’s car was there. I took the extra key we held in the pot plant next to the front door, and grabbed the car keys from my house. Before I completely left, I took in one last breath of the cinnamon smelling house I missed so much. I had to go now though, before it was too late.
I got in the car, quickly turned it on, and was on my way. I fallowed the sense for miles. It brought me through streets that were invisible at first, but the roads were still big enough to drive though. It has maybe been an hour when I felt the sense at the strongest. I could feel Argem dwelling on not having me. He always got what he wanted. I then knew I was here. I got a sight of a long driveway, and stopped the car before it.
“I can do this.” I told myself. “I can do this.” How could I not? This is what I wanted. I wanted to save my loved ones. I wanted Kierce back with his father, living under his roof. I wanted my parents to come back to their home, and enjoy their life together. Most of all, I wanted Tae to stop trying to protect me, and putting himself in danger. I wanted this more than anything. I knew I could do this. I got out of the car, and started walking towards the mansion.
The driveway felt like it was a half a mile. I’ve been walking for maybe ten minutes and still have not seen the mansion. As I walked towards my last steps of life, I pictured how my life used to be. How I enjoyed spending time with my friends, and how I saw my parents every day. But, I don’t think I miss it. I wouldn’t trade Kierce or Tae for anything now. Nothing would take them away from me. I had to separate myself. To save them. To let them have a life.
I got closer and closer to the mansion. I could now see it, fully made with wood. The front
of it was covered in stone. It was a few floors up, definitely fit about one hundred people, if not more. It was completely beautiful. I wouldn’t mind living here, if I had that chance. The front yard had a fountain, with benches all around it. It seemed peaceful, making me wonder that maybe being a hunter wouldn’t be bad.
As I came up to the stairway to come up to the front door, there were guards that already met me. I took each step as slow as I could, savoring every last breathe as a human, as a watcher. When I came inside, my mouth practically fell open. The ceiling was as high as the mansion itself, with a huge chandelier hanging down as big as the top floor. The windows themselves were each story high. To get to the next levels, there was a curved stairway at the left of the house, which lead to a balcony on the inside of the house. Past the balcony I could see door after door. Must be nice living like this. There were different typed of hallways, as far as I could see from just front, there were much more. I looked to my right, still standing by the front door, and noticed a fireplace that went up three stories. If that was their only way of heat, then sure be it.
I kept looking at the beautiful mansion, and was in completely amazed. I never have seen anything so beautiful. I looked straight ahead of me, and right under the stairs seemed like another huge bedroom. The doors were open and I could see almost an office desk in the dead center of the room. Behind it, was a huge painting. I couldn’t tell what it was though. Maybe soon I can see it a lot clearly. I enjoyed being in this mansion. The white colored walls inside made the atmosphere a little lighter.