Chris
Asher was hardly in my grip when Silvanus manifested, growing about twice my size on a full moon. I was gaping up at the guy who was shorter than me a minute ago. Two massive claws stabbed into Asher's calves, sticking through his flesh and bones into the table; my tiny ones retracted involuntarily, letting go of Asher's head. Silvanus dragged Asher towards him, gouging large grooves into the table. He picked him up and flipped him over in the air, slamming him down onto his back and cracking the big wooden table in the process. Even during all of the months amidst all of the supernatural—things still scared the crap out of me… Was I going to turn into that? Because he was from my world… He was there as an ambassador for the riphaths.
His voice almost sounded demonic, and with such a low growl, I couldn't help but stare at everything he had become, "It's okay that you go after the wolf; however, you forgot next to who she's sitting." Silvanus put his paw under Asher's chin. The vampire was kicking—squirming; it was as swift as when I did it. Extend. Retract. Asher was dead.
Warden came running into the room with two other watchers, assessing quickly what was needed. He motioned into the air. The other two picked up Asher's body and carried him out. Silvanus turned to Warden, who jumped at attention. The floor shook. The horns on his head scratch slits in the concrete roof, "Is this how you protect him?"
I've only seen Warden flinch from fear one other time. I got up quickly, hoping it would have the same effect as earlier. Acutely aware of my movements, Silvanus's eyes landed on me over his shoulder. "He is only human. You can hardly blame him," I ventured, testing my authority.
Silvanus returned to his human form, slapping Warden on the shoulder. "It's your lucky day. Boss has spoken." [Laugh… mmm sound.] I eyed Warden. He glanced at me, smiling nervously. He left the room again. I liked Warden. I didn't want to see him hurt.
Silvanus turned towards Liv as she spoke, "This is another stalling tactic of Qadir. It's going to take two weeks to get another ambassador here. Why did you guys react at all? Do you think I can't take care of myself?" She shook her head at me; so much for helping her—ever again. Flashes of Sita came to mind. Were all werewolves weird? "I want to go home. I want to take Sita home."
Samuel got up, "Okay, keep your panties on." Liv's head jerked up. Samuel chuckled and put his hands in the air, "It's so easy with you, Liv… A little earth joke… I tell you what… You take Sita and get off this planet. And make sure she doesn't ever come back. Or I'll kill her personally for going after my niece." Liv bowed her head quickly, picked up her stack of papers, and quit the room. "Now, Silvanus. I think it's time we attended a fight… Let's go have a talk with Qadir."
"Yes! Now you're talking," Silvanus clapped once, a sound of excitement in the gesture, and walked over to me, "Pack your bags. We're going to Italy."
I looked at Marcus. Our eyes met, and we both just stared at each other. More time we are away from home. We would have to wait for the first week in Dec for the full moon. It was only Jack who was at the house to protect Louis. Not to mention Charlene's baby…
We've tried to avoid the Italian branch every time we have been at the cages because Qadir watched his matches in Italy. Marcus nor I wanted to see him. I didn't know what I would do. I didn't want to see Marcus—biddable—compliant—in the way Juliet described him. We didn't want him taken back to the compound either, "I'll go if we can get some more people on Louis. If not, I'm going home right now."
Samuel walked over to me, "Don't worry. Until the baby is born, I can still surround him with as many watchers as possible."
***
Marcus
"Then why is no one talking about the assassins," I asked.
"We have Marcus; it's not easy tracing and keeping track of everything your father does. No one cares if some random vampire dies—" I wanted to speak, "Although, after Qadir's stunt, I personally put people on Louis at the house when you guys left."
"So everyone is certain Juliet and I won't die if Louis is killed? Or was that the point…?" I had not thought Qadir would risk it. Maybe they wanted to do something else with Louis… Samuel didn't say anything, "Have you guys talked to Michael… What's his story."
"You can be glad he was there, Marcus… Who do you think put him in her life to start with… I might not be able to go on the compound, yet I was there watching in, pulling strings from the outside… You have to trust Michael… And you have to no matter what you see."
"Are we going to talk about what just happened?"
Samuel regarded me, "You are really as sharp as a tack… Let's not talk about politics anymore… I'm sick of it… and need some time to decompress."
It was his way of saying the adult had spoken. Chris and I were so frustrated with being told what to do, pushed into a box at every turn. I did sometimes want to lose it. "Samuel, you better have this in hand," he waved me off. The two men left. I don't know where they were headed, but Chris and I were supposed to go to Italy and wait.
It was the first time I would see Qadir after leaving him standing in the arena, after ignoring him, when he commanded me to turn around and come home with him or return his calls for all the following months. I was nervous. Chris was scared he would kill the guy.
Walking in with Silvanus and Samuel was a little comforting… Using words like comforting was weird for me. Still, since I had been living with Juliet for so long, it had been hard not to feel. All she does is feel. Then she thinks. Putting the two together into one little bundle of a person was interesting. She had let me believe I could do it, leave the compound behind, and yet I wasn't giving her anything back; I felt awful about how I was treating her. I had a stupid grin on my face, thinking about her; Juliet had been trying, and the night she stood across from me, begging me to talk to her and take her to my room, was one of the hardest things I had to walk away from. Chris narrowed his eyes at me. He smirked as we entered the room where all the distinguished guests sat.
My father's face was priceless. It seemed he didn't get the memo, or someone was going to get reprimanded. If he had known… he would have done something. All the older vampires stood up to greet the famous Silvanus of our galaxy. Chris and I felt like two kids who knew nothing.
Qadir came walking up to Chris and me, scrutinizing him up and down. "So, is this what all the fuss is about?" he swiped over his teeth with his tongue and didn't even greet Chris; then he turned to me, "You still happy with your chit? I hear you have completely lost control there. Such a disappointment, Marcus. Letting other men take your women… No! Much worse. Have her before you."
Silvanus came over and asked Qadir to sit at a table with Samuel. He invited us as well and cleared the room.
"Qadir, we are unhappy with your threats against Chris's wife."
"Humph! His wife? She is a diplomatic problem all by herself. The compound doesn't condone cheating. Marcus branded her, and then she slept with two other men. It's an insult, Silvanus."
"Says the man who has how many wives? Let's not try and moralize, okay… And let's not forget everything the branding involves. There is a reason your men don't do it anymore. It has become a legend. If it wasn't for Liam and Marcus… Well, then, Juliet would probably be dead today," Qadir tapped his fingers on the table in a rhythmic motion, glaring at Chris. "Regardless, the baby isn't up for negotiations. As long as Chris's child is in her… We agreed you can't go near her… and after until he's weaned… You insult us by even thinking about going after her before then."
The conversation wasn't going the way I thought. The treaty was only a decision away from being null and void. Silvanus calls Juliet Chris's wife but doesn't consider her for protection. Everybody knows Qadir wants to go after her… he wasn't even hiding it.
"Marcus! Leave and get ready for your fights," my father demanded. I got up like a school kid. Indoctrinated with obeying him.
***
Chris
Marcus left and entered the room next door, getting ready for his fight. He would follow orders; it didn't mean I had to. I stood outside to listen to their conversation.
"Fine. I will not go anywhere near her. However, if something happens to her—" Silvanus wanted to speak; Qadir cut him off, "After the baby is born. It's out of my hands… Chris being here is a fluke, anyway. As soon as he is off-planet, Juliet falls under vampire laws again. And if the werewolves don't save their own kind, this whole planet will be under our jurisdiction."
"Qadir, if anything happens to that baby… You will not only lose your planet, but I will kill you myself and deliver your head to your father. Who, I'm sure, will compensate me for it," Silvanus aimed to leave the room.
"Not so fast…." Qadir said.
Marcus came around the corner and pulled me into the room with him, "Hey!" I whispered, "Did you hear what they said."
***
Marcus
Chris and I were in the room Juliet got hurt in. Now cleaned and free from any evidence of me letting him beat the crap out of her. Thinking about it made me feel like less of a man. Allowing her to get hurt made my skin crawl… I also knew it wouldn't be the last time I would stand back when she got into a scrape. I was nowhere near dealing with my father or standing up to him, so no, I wasn't listening to what they were talking about; my mind switched off when I was anywhere near the man.
"Your father seems like any other guy."
"Yeah, he's nothing special. He only thinks he is because of the title. And in that regard, he's entitled to."
"So, who do you think you'll be fighting," Chris slammed his palms in anticipation, rubbing them together.
"You, of course. We need to train properly."
"No, that's unfair. You know me too well. And you showed me last time you could put me in the ground if you wanted to. This size of mine has nothing against your capabilities."
"Can you imagine what you will be like when I train you to my level—"
"Silvanus!" we both said at the same time and chuckled.
I laughed nervously, "Did you see the guy? How does that even work? How do I go from what I am now to that?"
"I nearly pissed my pant—" the words were out before I knew what I had said.
Chris came over and pulled me up from digging in my bag, holding my shoulders in his hands, "Let it go!" Chris couldn't finish his sentence because the door opened.
"You're up in the first round, Marcus," Kubra spoke into the room and then wanted to leave.
"What, why? I'm not fighting some newbie werewolf. Chris and I want to fight."
"You're fighting Silvanus."
Chris let out a burst of laughter, "Only if we can tag team him, maybe, or else it's a big fat no."
"You don't get to make the rules here, big guy. Get ready, Marcus." I sat down on the table where Juliet hit her head when my father threw her into it. I jumped up, manifesting, breaking it in half, and chucking it out the door into the arena below.
"This is Qadir's idea," Chris said, "He's punishing you," he rubbed his hands over his face.
Kubra's voice came from the door, "Get ready, Chris. You're next after Marcus; you're fighting Qadir," both our heads snapped up at him. Seeing our faces, Kubra tapped the door frame, making sure we heard him. He stayed there for a second, then pointed at me, "Weak legs and top heavy," then Kubra pointed at Chris, "You're going to die," he laughed, "I'm kidding. No, Qadir has only one weakness… Juliet… Good luck."
Seeing Silvanus across from me intimidating and terrifying was daunting… I was muscled, but my body was small compared to theirs. I was never going to be a buff guy, but he… was something else entirely. I wasn't really scared of being knocked about or getting my pride hurt. Heaven knows I've felt pain before… torture even… training every day to the point of exhaustion.
I closed my eyes, head raised to the roof, swaying side to side. Juliet was lying on my lap in the lounge in front of the fire, reading a book and laughing about something that happened in her novel. Not even knowing, all I can do is stare at her… fake my reading. Then, when I was pretending to read, she rubbed away the frown I had on my brow because I was trying my best not to take her right there. She touches my lips. I never thought I would ever see her again after I branded her. I especially didn't believe I'd ever be in her life as a full-grown woman, knowing how to entice a man. Her hands are soft, and I can't wait for the first time I will kiss her—properly.
I heard the stampeding towards me. My eyes were still up towards the roof. They say you can never really lead until you've lost. I lost her once. I'm not making the same mistake again, even if I have to kill every last thing in the galaxy… Stupid Marcus… that I ever thought it was even possible.
His weapon of choice was a simple stick, so he didn't have to hurt me, I supposed. I smirked, seeing it, feeling quite offended. I shrugged it off as I dodged his first attacks, dealing blows right back, countering each other in swift motions. Muscles are heavy; however, Silvanus was as agile as a snake and trained to perfection. Every blow met my weapon. I had chosen one of the harpoon-like spears to remember our ostrich friends with. I had practiced with it for a few days. He was not stronger than me. I was surprised at doing so well, keeping up matching his every strike, prod, and swipe.
I hooked his stick in a swift motion and flung it to the ground, breaking it in two with my harpoon tip. I kicked both parts up towards the roof and used my spear to jump on the bottom end as the sharp knife stabbed into the ground, a trick I took from the birds. I grabbed both the falling sticks and came down on Silvanus's head, using his horns as stepping stones. He flailed a bit, trying to get a hold of me. He stretched for my spear, but I had left it… just out of reach. I was behind him, hitting him on both of his big ass pointy ears as I jumped to the ground. They hung floppy and hairy, cracking when I whacked them as hard as I could. He was angry and came at me with force… Good, he was an emotional fighter. But still, I thwarted every effort he could deal out. Even if we both got in some shots, we took it in stride. He was irritated. I laughed nervously as he grew taller and massive to his full moon size, thinking I would go flying.
Juliet fell into my arms, sick and pale. Scratched by a… baby wolf. I cracked my neck from side to side as he advanced on me. If I couldn't take him down, I had no business being by her side.
He was so far off the ground it was easy to slide through his legs as he strutted towards me. On the other side, I did the same thing with his ears. I swiftly keep jabbing him in critical areas of his body. Liver. Throat. Paws. One by one with both sticks. It wasn't that he was not a good fighter; I just liked being very—unpredictable.
I was done with the sticks, having done the damage I could with them. I stabbed the broken parts into the ground next to one of his feet. He looked down at me cocking his head, eyes big. I winked at him, not going to hurt the guy for real. I jumped back before he could plant his fist in the side of my skull. I grabbed my spear and reciprocated. Silvanus extended and locked his claws. He had changed his focus on doing maximum damage. At last, I felt he was taking me seriously. I let him get in a few blows against the spear's sharp blade. I studied his style and the way he did things. I allowed him to take the weapon from me and break it so he could retract those deadly spikes on his paws. He did. We weren't out to kill each other. We're back to hand-to-hand combat.
He grabbed my wrists and flung me away from him, hitting me on my tricep and ribs. My gut stung. He clenched me in his arms. I got out of the hold, kicking him on the thigh closest to me—that leg moved back involuntarily, leaving me space to hit the one he left open. I kept doing it a few times. He flinched with every blow. His legs were standing wide from moving backward. I went for the outside of his leg, back to kicking him on the inside of the thigh hard and consecutively, alternating legs as he staggered back even more; his legs were weakening. I kept advancing at a forceful pace. As he tried to regain balance, I used the opportunity by punching his chest repeatedly on the same spot till I heard the crack of the small floating ribs on either side of his body. He grabbed my throat and lifted me up, having had enough. I waited till we were face to face and smirked, "Thanks for the lift," I croaked out. He narrowed his eyes.
I wrapped my legs around his neck and twisted myself around, using my weight to make him stumble forward with me on top of him, grabbing his horns to force him that last little bit, rolling forward. He tumbled face-first into the ground… They really were top-heavy. I reached out for the top half of my spear to my right and swiftly pushed the sharp tip into his neck. I would have pierced the blade right through in a manifested rage to get the job done. Kubra had already jumped down into the arena and pulled me off him before I even saw the blood trickle down the cut. The smell made me jump back and change. Penitently, I walked over to him, hoping he wouldn't kill me.
Silvanus rolled around onto his back, laughing so loud the whole place vibrated. The cheers of the audience made the arena a chamber of thundering noise. All the vampires stood on the walkway, surrounding us, looking down and clapping.
All… Accept one.
I took my victory lap… thankful—I could go home to Juliet. I came to a stop and pointed out my blade to Qadir. And my demon stood staring back at me.
***
Chris
A curse word escaped my lips as Marcus plummeted Silvanus into the ground, getting the upper hand over him. How the hell did I follow his capabilities. What did I know about fighting? Challenging a few werewolf boys for practice wasn't the display Marcus had put on. And he wasn't fighting the one man we all hated. It was too much pressure. I nervously paced the length of the small room. Silvanus's voice echoed through the corridor, "I haven't seen fighting like that in centuries, Marcus. It was the best fight I've ever had, son. You surely make your race proud. If you can get the upper hand on a full moon, you could take any of us on."
Marcus wasn't one for praise. His eyes were cast to the ground as Silvanus kept trying to give him a compliment. Both came in and sat down on the couches when they saw me. I couldn't think about sitting still. "You ready, boy?" Silvanus asked. "Marcus and I were going to have a beer while we watch you… If he's been training you. I'm sure you'll do fine. From what I know about Qadir, he isn't a fighter."
"Yeah, that's what Marcus says about himself all the time. And look what he did." We both looked to the son of the man I was about to go up against. He was quiet and pensive, not listening to us at all. "Marcus?" I said, touching his shoulder.
He patted my hand, "I'm fine." He got up and pulled a shirt over his head, ready to leave the room. At the door, he looked back at Silvanus, "You ready to protect Chris if it comes down to it? I think you better hold up on that beer. Let's be ready for anything."
Marcus left the room anxious. We could hear Qadir in the arena, rattling the cages with a stick, setting off the werewolves. I stepped outside, looking down. Silvanus came to stand next to me. They released the werewolf from its cage. It was Mateo. Enormous. It's not two minutes of a few blows and scratches… Mateo was down on the ground, being dragged out in his human form. Silvanus walked towards the stairs, making his funny laughing mmm sound after he mumbled something.
"F—" was all I had to say.
I stepped into the ring. The gates closed behind me. Why would Kubra give me that useless information I couldn't use?
Qadir and I stood across from each other in the middle of the ring—unmanifested. We both raised our hands; it seemed like we were—boxing. He jabbed, and I dodged. He uppercut, I avoided it. I jabbed at him, and he escaped. I spun and kicked at him. Qadir stopped my kicks with blocks from his own legs. We matched each other for a few minutes, landing equal blows. It felt like Marcus had an emotional edge to his fighting. He had something to prove himself to. I didn't have that drive with Juliet or a father who hated me. I wasn't fighting to not become king on some planet out in the cosmos. What was I doing there? "I hope you know Juliet rules Marcus with only a little effort." Qadir smiled briefly. His hands were high, and he jabbed… just a little harder.
"It's funny how easily you let them leave the compound. Seems like you can't control her either." I felt the next jab to the ribs, but I didn't let him go; I grabbed his arm, moving over to other fighting styles he might not know so well. I grappled until I had his arm in mine on the ground. I punched him in the side and on the back. He turned out and away from me, getting up angrier. "You know he's not sleeping with her. He's choosing to wait and not force her into his bed." He bit his bottom lip, jumping towards me, kicking me hard on the chest.
Marcus had taught me how to keep my balance. The impact didn't make me fall. Instead, I used my arms to propel myself forward. I attacked him, hitting away every blow I knew would come, creating an opening, and swiftly gave him an uppercut to the chin. His head jerked up. I used the opportunity to punch him as hard as possible in the liver with a shovel hook. The pain made him cry out, doubling over as he glanced at me through his eyelashes. Manifesting was the only way he would be able to go on. "Seems like you can't control yourself, never mind a little girl."
Livid, he jumped at me—with speed and strength combined. He was too fast... "This is cheating. Maybe the only way you'll ever get to her." He was behind me and hit up into my ribs, getting my kidney and making me fall over. I groaned, and my eyes closed. The crowd went deadly quiet. I had let him… wanting to feel how Marcus felt every time his father hit him fully manifested. Wanting to know what Juliet went through after I saw her in France—ripped open. I rolled away, getting to my feet, staring at him, "You're weaker than a girl, Qadir; only women play unfair… Oh, and it seems you already lost your place in the food chain to your son. What will you do when he makes her his queen and rules you like a—" It was over quickly. He was next to me and punched me on the side of the face, and I went flying. I had to learn to take punches and how they would really feel.
He leisurely strolled over and stood with one foot on my chest, looking down at me, "I might not play fair. But you will soon realize when you play for life or death, all bets are off. Tell that to your girlfriend."
I laughed because I was waiting for this… I grabbed his foot in my hand and twisted his leg in one swift motion, moved swiftly around and over Qadir's body, and got him in a leglock, making his knee crackle under pressure. It looked like it would bend the other way and break his leg, snapping it in half. He was standing with his hands in the sand, trying to balance on one knee, deciding if he would tap. I forced down—hard, "Second time we have you on your knees." I felt the tap, and I let him go. He rolled over, his face contorted from the pain. He changed back to human. I put my foot on his knee, pressing down, "You're already dead... It's only a matter of time." I spat next to him in the sand. "The next time you dare to challenge me, I'll kill you… If you touch her again… I will kill you. The only reason I'm not doing it is because of your son."
Passing through the gates… Marcus and Silvanus were standing on the threshold of the arena, gaping at me. I had taken the blow in my human form. My ears were ringing. Not used to it. My jaw felt like it might come off. I stumbled forward, falling on the floor, retching from the nerves and pain.
"S—!" Marcus yelled, "Medic!"