Thomas woke up to his mom coming home, he sighed and winced as he got up remembering the days events. He looked down and saw the bruise had darkened to a deep purple color almost black. He groaned and slowly got out of bed. Thomas went to the bathroom in search for pain meds, when he was done he went to go greet his mom.
"Hey love, sorry I'm late." His mom said kissing his cheek. Thomas smiled.
"No problem! How was work?" His mom groaned, "All the Karen's in the world came after me today. Not to mention all the wolves came in and snatched up most of the meats. I swear they could use some vegetables." He laughed and sat with his mom in the kitchen.
"Have you eaten?" His mom asked him glaring accusingly at him. Thomas looked away sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I kind of just crashed when I got home, I had a long day." He didn't tell his mom about the sparing or the bruised ribs, she would freak out and probably hunt Axel down. He didn't know what she would do against him but he didn't want to find out.
"Well I'm gonna make something would you like anything?" His mom asked, she started to grab pots and pans.
"Uh no I'm good, I think I'm just gonna take Stryker on a walk." He answered. His mom nodded and got to work making some dinner, she knew she would probably make him a serving anyway and he went to find his dog. He was easily found in his mothers room laying on the bed, His mom had to buy a queen size just to fit her and the Saint Bernard.
"Come on Stryker!" I exclaimed, he hopped up excitedly and stomped down the stairs his tail wagging behind him. Thomas chuckled and grabbed his leash of the stand.
"Let's go for a walk buddy." Thomas whispered, Stryker sat patiently waiting. Thomas and Stryker headed out and walked down the dimly lit street. Thomas thought about where he would walk to, he thought about heading for the park but that was on the other side of town, which took forever unless he cut across the woods. Thomas looked into the woods as Stryker sniffed a pile of leaves. He supposed that going into the woods at night was bad but who would mess with a guy with a Saint Bernard.
"How about a walk in the woods buddy? You could catch a squirrel." Strykers ears perked up at the mention of the small forest creature. He jumped around and barked at Thomas.
"Woods it is." Thomas headed into the woods with a small doubt in the back of his head. 'What if there's a vampire waiting for me.'
He quickly shook the thought away, the wolves would prevent them from coming into the kingdom much less this far into town. Thomas let Stryker off his leash, he usually waited till the park, a lot of the kids were scared of him so he didn't take him off leash very often. Stryker bounded around the woods, weaving through the trees with his tongue hanging out. Thomas laughed at how big and clumsy he was.
"That's right bud, enjoy the fresh air." Thomas got a chill when the wind blew harshly against him, an odd thing since the night was relatively still. Thomas walked on, only about 10 more minutes until he reached the park, but the chill down his spine wouldn't go away. Thomas looked behind him and didn't see anything. He laughed at himself for being so worked up about a little bit of wind. A little voice in the back of his mind told him he was being followed though. He called Stryker closer and walked slightly faster as a precaution.
Thomas was almost to where he would make it out of the forest ok and let out a sigh and laughed at himself for being so stupid. 'Of course there isn't anything following me.'
"Naïve little fairy." A voice chuckled from behind Thomas. He gasped and spun around, the wind picked up again and the voice was behind him. Thomas could feel hot breath on his ear. "What's a pretty thing like you doing in the woods all alone." Stryker lunged at the man and his jaw was milliseconds away from snapping the man. The man was fast though, he jumped back and laughed at the dog.
"Your little pooch won't protect a sweet thing like you. Why I could smell you from the border." The man smirked at Thomas and licked his lips. "Such a nice smell. Different from the usual fairies. Pure, innocent. Most fairies are fucking gossips, their rotten mouths make them less tasty than a beautiful specimen like you." The vampires eyes glowed red as he smelled the air.
Thomas gulped, what was this vampire doing here?
"That's right sweet thing, I came here just for you." He bared his fangs and smiled. Thomas' hair stood on end, he was desperately trying to think of a way out.
"Don't think of flying out of here little fairy, I do so enjoy ripping the wings off. The cry that comes out when the first is pulled. Oh and then the fear as I slowly take the second." The man laughed and took a step towards me. Stryker jumped in between us and growled harshly at the man.
"I guess I'll have to put down the mutt first won't I." The vampire lunged at Stryker and Stryker lunged back. I cried out as the man bit down on Stryker. Stryker bit the man in the hand as well making the man back off.
"Stupid little thing, have sense and give up. If you call your dog off I'll spare him." I cried out to Stryker to go home, or sit or anything but he wouldn't listen. He kept himself between me and the vampire. He was bleeding from where he got bit and was limping a bit but he stood strong.
"Rotten things aren't they. I'll take care of it for you."
"No!" I cried out as they lunged at each other again, this time Stryker was in a hold and couldn't latch onto the man.
"It's almost over-" The vampire couldn't finish his sentence because he was tackled to the ground by a very large wolf. The man hissed as he was tackled and shouted when the wolf bit into his side.
Thomas ran to Stryker who was on the ground.
"Hey boy you're gonna be ok." Thomas held his head tearing up, Stryker's tail wagged softly and and looked up at Thomas. Thomas could have sworn he saw him smile. Thomas looked back at the scene and more wolves were on the man. The first wolf was hanging back now and was watching the fight go down, although it wasn't much of a fight. The initial wolf looked at Thomas with a sorrowful look before bounding off with the other with their prisoner.
Thomas felt like the wolf was very familiar but couldn't think of why. Thomas looked down at Stryker and started to cry. He knew he was in serious condition and had to get him to a vet fast. He was stupid and didn't bring his cellphone with him. He stood up and wrapped his arms around Stryker. Even with is bruised ribs he picked him up. Stryker was hard to pick up to begin with but with his ribs Thomas felt as though he might not make it. He quickly let his wings out and started to fly, careful not to go to high just incase Stryker got too heavy. When flying he was 2x as fast as normal, he quickly got home despite everything. He put the dog in his moms car and covered him up.
"I'll be back buddy, hang on." He ran into the house and called for his mom. He was in tears and sobbing.
"Honey, oh god what's wrong? Where's Stryker? Why are you covered in blood?!" His mom rushed to him grabbing his face and then looking around.
"Not mine, He's already in the car, we need to go now Stryker got hurt." His mom didn't hesitate to grab the keys and run to the car. Thomas sat in the back with Stryker. His mom saw all the blood and gasped.
"Thomas what happened!" His mother cried out.
"I don't know why he was there mom, I was so scared. I didn't think anything would happen. I'm so sorry." Thomas sobbed, watching Stryker's chest heave up and down. His mom stepped on the gas.
"Baby I can't understand, you need to tell me what happened." His mom said rather calmly.
"A vampire." Thomas managed to say. His mom looked at him with wild eyes.
"What do you mean? Where were you?" His mom questioned.
"I-I wanted to go to the park but it was so far, I-I didn't think-" Thomas blabbered.
"You went in the woods?" His mom sort of questioned but she already knew the answer. Thomas nodded while petting his dogs head. Stryker was still wagging his tail and licked Thomas' hand. Thomas teared up more when he realized he was trying to cheer him up.
"I'm glad you're ok. But don't you ever. I mean ever! Do that again." His mom said sternly. Thomas nodded and meant it, he would never risk losing his dog. When they arrived at the vets it was closed, but his mom knew the owner and had called after the little spat in the car. The owner came down and immediately grabbed Stryker. Thomas waited in the waiting room for what felt like forever. When the vet emerged he stood up and ran over to her.
"Stryker is ok, he's stable. He is asleep right now but you can come pick him up in a few days. He was very lucky. From what I heard the vampire probably missed his major artery because of being bit but only just barley. He will need a lot of time to heal and he will probably be skittish about the woods or other people." Thomas teared up again but out of relief. He would never be able to forgive himself if anything had happened to his dog. His mom paid and went to take Thomas home. His mom kissed his head and hugged him tightly.
"I know Stryker is very important to you but I'm glad it was him and not you." his mom whispered as she went off to bed. Thomas couldn't blame her, he blamed himself for Stryker. Stryker had been trying to protect him. How could he put his beloved dog in danger. Then Thomas had thought about what the vampire had said before. If he truly smelt Thomas from the border does that mean that he would have found him whether or not he went outside? If that was true he was glad he left, he could not have bared it if his mom had also gotten hurt. He tossed and turned thinking about these things.