by Candy Crum
“Yeah, Kay. He hasn’t cared about anyone since Analynn and talking to her has him all screwed up. He thought it made it better, but it just brought it all up again and having feelings for you makes him feel guilty, like he’s betraying her or something,” Brett said.
“But you don’t know that, do you?” I asked. “You don’t know that he has feelings for me. Because he’s never really admitted it to any of you.”
“No,” he said. “He hasn’t.”
I shook my head a little. “Then don’t talk to me like that. I’m not a naïve child, like he thinks I am. Before, I would have held on, thinking there was a possibility. But now, I know there isn’t one. If and when he is ever ready to come to me, I’ll be there because I don’t fuck with anyone’s emotions like that. I say what I mean, and I meant what I said. But I will never speak to him again—not until he’s ready to speak to me.”
“Sweetheart—” Khanae began, before I interrupted her.
“Sayen, get me the hell out of here.” I couldn’t take another moment of that conversation, and I refused to.
Sayen nodded and turned to go upstairs. No one said anything as we all headed in our separate directions, grabbing our things. Once we were in Brett’s new Chevy Avalanche, we started hashing out the details. Everyone agreed that me going back to work was not a wise idea, so that was the end of that. We also agreed that quitting school this close to the end wasn’t mentally in my best interest because it would crush my spirit—and it would.
So, the following day, Brett would take a list of my teachers to the campus and compel them all to allow me to do all homework and tests from home, using Wendy Cain as the proctor. My clinical days were going to be the trickiest. Brett said that Khanae volunteered to go for me since she could compel everyone to believe that she was me. I felt terrible about that, because it was cheating, but I’d been in the medical field for two years, and I’d done every procedure in my work as a CNA that I’d done in class.
Sayen promised that she could “magically update” me once the day was over. Sounded a little odd, but I agreed. We didn’t really have a choice. I couldn’t put those patients in that kind of danger. I nearly broke down in tears when I walked in the door to my house. Complete comfort washed over me. It hadn’t been that long since I’d been home, but with everything that had happened, it had been much longer than I liked.
Without wasting any time, I got everyone settled in their rooms and headed to fix something for all of us to eat. While I cooked, Brett went out back to the large wooded area behind my house and went hunting. He said that he’d rather have human blood, just in case, but couldn’t afford to leave me alone long enough to go find a drunk at a bar and lure them away. I hated that he wouldn’t go, but I understood.
When he got back, I had dinner done. It wasn’t anything fancy, but I didn’t have a lot since I hadn’t been staying there much. It was just some Hamburger Helper, mashed potatoes, and steamed broccoli and cheese. He seemed pretty happy about it, so I didn’t worry too much. We agreed that nothing would happen that night, and that we would spend it relaxing. In the morning, we would get started. Brett finally got ahold of Amanda, and she agreed to go to the grocery store to pick up a few things. Sayen would keep a distant eye on her to make sure she would be okay.
By the time she got to the house, I was in the shower, trying to wash the stink of the disappointing day off of me. The only thing that I had to hope for was that the instructor found my test lying on that back desk and that nothing counted against me—or that I passed regardless.
God, I sounded ridiculous—even to myself. How could I possibly worry about something so trivial? Shaking my head at myself, I got up and headed to the kitchen. After grabbing a protein bar, I headed back up to my room and to my computer. Amanda and Brett headed outside so he could fill her in without disturbing me. Sitting at the desk, I began feeling a little tired. I yawned and rubbed my eyes, trying to bring myself around. It had been a long and exhausting day.
I closed my eyes for a few moments, resting them. I wasn’t ready to go to sleep by any means, but my body didn’t care. Shaking away the fatigue, I decided to do something I’d been curious to do for a while. I wanted to see how accurate—if at all—the information on the internet was. If there was actually anything valuable there to read.
The first thing I did was bring up Google and type in Werewolves. Yes, I realize it was a bit dumb, but there was no way those creatures had survived for three thousand years and gone unnoticed. There must be some information on them somewhere, and I wanted to see what it was. Searching through the links proved to be completely useless. There were wolf-man sightings and things of that nature, but nothing that seemed real.
Local hunter sees wolf larger than a bear.
Aha, there we go. I clicked on the link and my computer died. With an irritated sigh, I began trying to diagnose the issue. Power button… Fail. Power supply… Still tightly secured. I unplugged the supply from the wall and heard a click.
Uh… Cord still in hand, I looked at the computer screen to see an open web browser. Interview with a Werewolf was across the top.
Ha-ha. Nice Anne Rice reference.
It was a large chat window, and apparently, I was supposed to be able to interview a Werewolf. I couldn’t decide if it was a vision that I was having, or something more. Still… How cute? I couldn’t help but smile as I dropped the unanchored power supply cord to the floor.
I’d play whatever game this vision wanted to play.
Interview with a Werewolf,huh? Interesting… I wrote.
Considering the dangerous path you find yourself on, I’d imagine you would find this very interesting, was the reply. I’m only here to help. So,ask away.
Very well,then. How did the war begin? I wrote.
There was a pause before the story began coming through.
I would imagine the reason why Khanae has yet to divulge information on how she was created is because it would revolve around her life and Khia’s life before they turned.
That wasn’t the first time I’d been told that. I really needed to get my hands on Khanae’s memoirs, appropriately titled, Memoirs of an Egyptian Goddess.
Within a few days of waking as a Vampire, Khanae realized what had happened in Egypt, but it took her time to realize she had power. Khia’s minions saw Khanae and her struggle with the change. They caught her attacking and drinking from animals and her increased speed and power. This is how Khia gained even more strength with the people. She told them of the monster that existed among them and that she was their only savior. Only she could destroy Khanae.
It wasn’t until eighteen years later that Khia actually set out to do so, after the death of her child. It took months for Khanae to gain control over her thirst and her power, but it took years for her to gain strength with outsiders in Egypt. She needed an army to lead. She needed power from those who would believe in her and help her save Egypt. By that time, Rogues were running rampant and tearing people apart. Khanae knew she would eventually have to stop them, too, but was unclear how to do it.
She was hunting the original Rogue down one night and came across a strange scent. It wasn’t human, but it wasn’t Vampire either. That was when she ran into Khia’s eighteen-year-old daughter. She had one of Khanae’s followers, a young boy, and was torturing him using her powers. Khanae went into a rage seeing one of her human followers being tortured. Because Khanae was still young and learning her power, there was a slight struggle, but she killed Khia’s daughter quickly and efficiently. That child was so grateful to her that ran back to the camp and told everyone what she had done. She was considered royalty to them before—those loyal to her since before she had turned—but she was now much more than that. Few called her goddess, but now everyone did. Khanae knew then that it was her duty to protect humans from Immortals and Rogues alike.
After a pause, I realized that was the end of the initial story.What about Werewolves? How did you fit in? How were you cre
ated?
You are full of questions, young one, and those answers will come soon. For now, I fear for you. The parts that I’ve told you are the most important. Something bad is coming your way.
How so?I asked.
There will be a time when you will question your reality, it will come soon. You must hold tight to your mind and the gifts that have been given to you—even the new ones.
What are you talking about? What does that mean?
Something about that scared the hell out of me. That was a very cryptic warning.
Just… remember. Your memories can be your worst enemy—as weak as you are—but they will also set you free. Just… remember.
With that the computer went blank and there was nothing left. I opened my eyes and discovered that I’d actually fallen asleep on the desk. Everything I’d seen in the dream was real, of that I had confidence. Wendy told me that Werewolves had the ability to dream-walk. I suspected that it was Erin due to the fact that our time was cut short at the school when she was telling me those things to begin with.
Trying to ignore the warning, I headed to bed to get some rest. I’d need it for the morning, and I could always talk to Sayen and Brett about it later. My bed felt much more amazing than I’d anticipated, and I loved it. Within moments I was completely unconscious again.
* * *
Working out with Brett proved to be no fun—though, it was a blast. Strange, right? He was a very strict instructor. He was exactly as I’d hoped he would be. I didn’t want him to take it easy on me because I was human-ish, because I was a girl, or because I was his friend. If we planned to do it, I wanted it to be done right, and he never suggested otherwise.
Sayen helped so that I could use my actual powers against him and not hurt him. She kept a strong barrier around his body that allowed me to use as much power as I wanted—without the repercussions. This allowed Brett to see how I moved and allowed Sayen to see how my powers functioned. Up until then, she’d only heard the stories of what I’d done while training with Aeric, how I’d healed Amanda, and saw what I was able to do in spirit form.
Now, she could break down what I was doing and give me some pointers. It would be awesome!
The first thing Brett did was grab me as a typical Vampire would. He didn’t even remotely hold back, which I found hilarious… and painful. He was invisible as he ran toward me, snatching me up by the throat and holding me in the air above him. Immediately, I freaked out. I began kicking struggling against him.
“The more you struggle, the quicker your air supply depletes,” Brett said.
“Brett! What the hell are you doing to her?” Amanda yelled as she came out the door.
She and I had breakfast together that morning and talked about the training, but neither of us was aware how intense it would be on the first day. She’d gone to take a shower and was apparently just as surprised to see how the training had started. Brett sat me down, not removing his hand, but releasing the tension so that I could breathe. I found myself holding tight to his large forearm as I gasped for air. I wanted to throw up, but I refused.
“Amanda, it’s fine,” Sayen said. “Brett and I cannot afford to take it easy on Kailah. This is part of the training exercise. Nothing will happen to her, I’m here to be the medium. Kailah will not be able to harm Brett, and Brett will not be able to harm her.”
“Are you okay with this?” Amanda asked.
I made the best eye contact that I could manage and nodded just as much. I tried to speak, but my words were barely a whisper. “I have no choice. A man was killed yesterday—because of me. An eleven-feet-tall beast threw a chair leg-stake at me, and it went through him. It exploded his chest nearly in two, and his heart even fell to the floor next to my feet. I was soaked in his blood from head to toe. Someone is dead… because I can’t sense things coming like I should be able to, and I couldn’t protect him. What if that had been you? Or Rachel? Do you think I would be able to live with myself if anything happened to you? I can barely think of it now, but had it been either one of you, part of me would have died along with you.”
Her eyes narrowed as she processed what I’d said. I told her about the attack, I told her someone was hurt, but I didn’t tell her that he’d died or what exactly had happened to him. My sister was never afraid, but I saw fear momentarily flash across her face as she sat at the table on the patio in my back yard.
“Brett, I like you a lot. But if you hurt my sister, I’ll stake you myself.”
Brett grinned. “That wouldn’t kill me, my dear.”
Amanda smirked, returning his sarcastic attitude. “You don’t know that.”
Brett’s eyes narrowed as his smile grew. “Touché. I suppose, with you, I don’t know if that would kill me or not. However, regardless of bloodline or the nearly three centuries that separate us, you guys are my little sisters, especially Kay here. I love her dearly, and I’d do anything for her. I’ve had the time to get to know her much better than I’ve had the chance to get to know you. But what I’d do for her, I’d do for you in a heartbeat. I’d never hurt her.”
“Enough talking, let’s go,” I said.
He gave Amanda one last look before looking at me for the go ahead. I nodded, and I found myself being lifted from the ground once again. My legs wanted to kick, and my hands wanted to hit and scratch at his hands, but I forced them to stop. I decided instead to allow myself to hang there, from his grasp. I wanted to learn how strong my body was.
Though I wasn’t yet fully Immortal, I sure as hell wasn’t simply human. I was surprised to find that my lungs felt more conditioned than I’d imagined, and as the panic eased, so did thinking, and my body seemed to become more prepared for whatever I commanded it to do.
“Very good,” Brett said. “Now, while you aren’t nearly as strong as a Vampire, even one that is very young, you are still naturally stronger than humans.”
Sayen spoke then. “Kailah, use your power. Surround yourself with it.”
I did as she asked me to, allowing a little of my energy to surround my body, especially my hands and feet. As it had with Aeric that day at the waterfall, instinct kicked in. I planted my left foot on his toned hip and, using it as leverage, I quickly thrust my right knee into his chin. He dropped me, and I immediately surrounded myself with a barrier. Brett quickly recoiled and managed to thrust his hand through the barrier to grab me again.
“Not strong enough,” he said. “Nice moves, but the barrier was weak at best.”
“Kailah, I’m going to teach you how to make a water barrier,” Sayen said.
“If you mean like the ones that make good privacy fences, I know how to do one of those.” Analynn had taught me that… Bitch.
“Well, then, if you can pull the essence from the element, then you can create an ice barrier. You’ve created an ice shield before, but you had no idea that you were doing it. While using water in this way isn’t permanent, meaning that a determined Vampire or Forsaken will be able to get through eventually, it is very beneficial and can buy you time or even be used to strengthen your spiritual barriers.”
I nodded, ready for her instruction.
“First, you need to feel for the water. Water is the hardest element to control.”
“I always feel the water around me. I didn’t realize it then, but I even felt it before I knew this life existed. Not that I care to bring her into this, but Analynn is a water using spirit. She told me that I have an affinity for the element without even needing a spirit to help me control it.”
I saw something flash in Brett’s eyes when I mentioned that she was a water using spirit, but he quickly hid it.
“Very interesting,” Sayen said. “Well, then, we will test that theory. Brett step back please.” He did as she asked and Sayen stepped forward. “Instead of using a water spirit’s essence to create a barrier, use the element itself.”
It occurred to me that I should probably have said something about the fact that I didn’t know if that was possib
le or not, but I knew Analynn was right. I knew that I had a connection to water, unlike any other element. Clearing my head, I pulled the water energy away from the rest. It was easy for me to find the element lurking in the humid, spring air.
I closed my eyes, and instead of focusing on the essence, I focused on the tangible element. The air around me grew crisp, and my throat felt scratchier with every breath. I could feel the swell of the element’s power around me, and I could feel it giving me strength. I opened my eyes and gasped when I saw a thin barrier of water around me. It was still completely transparent, and I could see the look of surprised pride on Sayen’s face.
“That’s amazing. You were able to do that without communicating with a single spirit. That is something no Immortal has ever been able to do!”
Looking around, I still couldn’t see the spirits even while attempting to will myself to. I wondered if that was a weakness. Regardless, now I knew that I was capable of displaying elemental power. Once I had that in my mind, I could move forward. The training could begin.
Chapter 5
A week had gone by and things were going famously. No more attacks at either house, which was great, and my training was going well. Brett had taught me how to get out of a lot of different holds, some blocks, and some ways to take an opponent to the ground. Sayen had taught me more about barriers, and I was doing very well with those. We would be moving on to more complex things soon, and I was ecstatic.
That morning felt even better than the last few as I was getting stronger, and the body aches were getting fewer and fewer. I was pumped. Though I missed him, the space from Aeric was doing me good, and I was able to think for myself and not about him as much. I jumped out of bed and headed to my closet to grab some clothes.
Ah, my black Danskin shorts and white t-shirt. It didn’t matter to me that they were cheap; they were by far the most comfortable clothes to work out in, and I wore them often.
I quickly finished getting dressed and headed for the kitchen for some breakfast. I wasn’t sure if everyone was still in bed or just not there, but I didn’t worry about it. I set out to do what I had been all week. Since I was more worried about strength than weight loss and only needed to lose about ten to fifteen pounds anyway, Brett mainly focused on protein. I knew I was going to need it with the workouts we were doing.