I sighed, my breath fogging in the cold air. It was dark, the stars shone through the clouded night sky. I was walking home, the exhibit had gone well. In the three days leading up to my showcase I had done exactly as I had said, I sat around, watched movies with my brother, ate unhealthy food, and painted.
I completed two new paintings that I gave to my agent. I wanted them submitted for my next exhibit, on tuesday. She dutifully complained about my last minute submissions, but I knew she was secretly glad. Heather liked putting in at least one or two new pieces for each showcase.
I had done as I said I would, and one of my paintings was of the pretty girl. Painting her was fun. She was beautiful and I made sure her eyes glinted that golden glow of her wolf. My paintings were always realistic, though the humans would probably disagree. I painted supernatural people, bringing a bit of my world to the mundane.
I worked under a false name: Leviathan. It worked for me, I didn't want to be famous and there were plenty of creatures that would rather not be painted and showcased. This way, they couldn't find me easily.
The second painting I submitted was harder. It took me days to get it right and I still wasn't thrilled. I had been right, painting his eyes was impossible. I made six different canvases of his features, just trying to get it right. It was the seventh piece that I liked best. I focused less on his eyes and more on his presence. He was the forest, he was the wolf, and something else, something… all consuming. I didn't need to make his eyes glow, it was obvious he was supernatural.
I sighed again. I shouldn't have submitted it. Even Heather had given me an asumming look. It was obvious, even in the picture, that I thought he was beautiful.
I heard a low sound from behind me and had to force myself to not look back. Someone was following me, I had known someone was following me. I decided to ignore them, I figured they would either make their presence known or leave me be.
However I was almost home and my tail had yet to do anything interesting. Honestly it was boring. They were the entire reason I was walking in this frigid weather and I was beginning to think it was unnecessary. At this point I just wanted them to attack me, the exercise would do me good.
I chuckled mirthlessly under my breath. It was truly a cold day in hell if I wanted my stalker to attack me, just so I could warm up.
Another of my senses went off and this time I froze.
It's hard to explain the senses of supernatural beings. For banshees it feels like a hand grabbing the back of my neck. I call that hand Death, Echo calls him Fred. All banshees can sense when someone dies, the more powerful the banshee the farther the range for death detection is. Banshees can also sense the Undead, though we're not as infamous for it. Mostly because you don't feel it, until they're right behind you.
So when I turned around, I came face to face with the vampire.
Vampires, in my professional opinion, are gross. They smell like death and look like death. Their skin has rottened and sagged off their bones, their hair has fallen out until there's just thin wisps dangling from their scalp. Vampires mouths are wider than any normal human and stock full of needle sharp teeth, thousands of them. Their eyes have lost all pigmentation and are just a milky white, it's understandable eerie.
I didn't scream though when the vampire opened its jaws and screeched in my face. Spraying me with bloody vampire spit. Yes, gross was an apt description.
I didn't panic at all. It was just one measly vampire after all. I just grabbed both sides of its head and broke its neck. The crack resounded through the silent night. Vampires have fragile bones, as fragile as any human being.
I was about to turn away when I felt it again. The hand on the back of my neck. I looked up and swore. This time I panicked. There had to be at least twenty vampires. They were all swarming on the top of the building, jumping down the fire escape. Coming towards me.
I didn't have any weapons. I had left my sword at home because I figured I wouldn't need it at an art exhibit. Damn me and my sensible decisions.
The twenty odd vampires surrounded me. Vampires attack one at a time, they only all converge when their prey is incompacitated. I had that going for me at the very least.
One of them started to speak. Which was odd, but not unheard of. It spoke, it's voice grating and rasping. Gross.
"She will take your heart." It hissed, head clicking back and forth. "Her prize. The Mistress of Love." A piece of flesh slid down it's cheek, like a slab of melted butter. "She will eat your heart. She gets your heart." It smiled, flashing bloody needle teeth, over thin stretched lips. "We get the rest." Right. I pulled out my phone, deciding to take the rational course of action and call my brother. It attacked, the other vampires taking up it's chant. They repeated the nifty speech, completely out of sync. They would make horrible cheerleaders. However the chaos of their ranting did make it creepier.
The vampire went for my phone, crushing it in it's hand. Rude.
I plunged my hand into it's chest, ignoring the snapping of it's ribcage and crushed his heart in my hand. It was only fair. The vampire fell to the floor and then the next one lunged.
☽◐⬤◑☾
I killed them, over and over and over. We had moved, due mostly to my maneuvering, down an empty alleyway. The night was still dark and cold. Though the exercise was warming me up.
They died one by one. But using nothing but brute force was exhausting. I was tired and bruised and scraped in a few places. I had lost count of how many I had killed. More than ten, I think. There were only a few left.
I was panting, waiting for the next vampire to attack. It snuck up behind me, silently. Wrapping its arms around me, locking my hands down and sank its teeth into my shoulder. It's needle-teeth sank deep, and then I felt the venom. It ran through my blood like termites chewing through my veins. And right on my shoulder, where it's teeth dug in, it felt like a red hot iron was branding my flesh. I screamed.
And a banshee's scream is nothing to sneeze at. The windows on the surrounding buildings shuddered, some cracked. The street lights nearby went out. My scream died as the vampire gnawed on my shoulder, tearing at my flesh. I fought against it, trying to free myself of the parasite but it held fast. Another vampire attacked, lunging at my feet and hugging my calf. It drew back like a viper angling to attack and then it chomped down on my thigh. A new wave of venom added to the pain, another brand pressed against my skin. This time I was braced for it and didn't scream.
My knees gave out as the venom over rode my system. They weren't draining me, just incapacitating me with the pain of their poison. If I were human the processes would likely Change me.
The monster under my flesh protested at it's disuse. I calmed him. The situation just wasn't that perilous, yet. The venom wouldn't kill me, I was immune. I just needed to-
I screamed, less impressive than the first, when the vampire dug its claws into my collar bone. I thrashed against it as the pointed fingertips sank in further, breaking the bone. The teeth and talons of vampires are not as fragile as human bones, I could hear my bones splintering.
The monster inside roared at me, begging to be realised. But the roar in my head was met with a roar cutting through the night, drowning out my sounds of pain.
The vampire was ripped away from my shoulder and thrown against a concrete wall. I heard the vampire break, a wave of immense satisfaction hit me with the sound. With my arms free I grabbed the vampire attached to my thigh and tore off it's head. I was really pissed off.
I tossed the head of the vampire at the limp form of the other. It bounced, thumping hallowly, and rolled to a stop.
The anger left quickly enough and I became acutely aware of the rumbling growl and the warm breath on my back. I turned around and came face to face with the giant maw of a wolf. He snarled at me once, flashing his fangs, and then took a step back. I looked around and realized all the other vampires were dead.
I turned back to the wolf, he was beautiful. His coat was pure white and his eyes glowed a golden amber. He whined once and dipped his head, motioning to my thigh. I looked down, I was covered in blood.
"It'll heal." I said, or at least I think I did, I definitely tried. The wolf huffed and I smiled. There were three things abundantly clear to me about this wolf. One he was a werewolf, two he was the one who had been following me, and three he was most definitely not Lupin.
I reached out to touch him. He just looked so soft. He lunged towards me as the world went crawling sideways and then black.
☽◐⬤◑☾
I woke up to pain. Coursing, raging pain. My shoulder and my thigh, burning like a hot poker embedded in my flesh. That fire ran through my veins, purging and ripping away the blight. I was on fire. I had to be.
I opened my eyes expecting flames and smoke. But the room was dim and large, the bed piled with pillows and massive. I was sunk into its softness and rolling in sweat. The world spun and my stomach flipped. I must've said something because soon hands were grabbing my shoulders, lifting me up. I slumped in a sitting position, draped across a man. He cooed in my ear, brushing back my hair as I hurled into the bucket he had brought up to my face.
When I was done, smaller hands gentled me back on the bed. My head sinking into the pile of pillows. The small hands brushed away the hair sticking to my sweat coated face. The girl loomed over me, smiling and saying something comforting. I recognized her, the pretty one, with the nice laugh, the girl who had stood too close to Lupin. I growled at her and she nodded.
"I know." She was comforting me, she couldn't possibly know. I closed my eyes, groaning as the fire started up again. This time my stomach stayed up right and the pain cleared away the fog in my head, just for a moment. I turned to the man at my right.
"Phone." I demanded, rather weakly, but he complied. He handed me his unlocked phone, sharing a concerned glance with the pretty girl. I quickly typed in the number and put the cool metal to my ear. It rang twice and then picked up.
"Who is this?" He's voice was high, worried and hopeful.
"It's me." My voice was raspy and broken by pain, but he sighed and I could feel his relief.
"Where are you? Are you ok? Arrow's been tracking you but-"
"I'm alive, ok? I love you." The world spun and I hung up. I almost dropped the phone but the man caught it. He stared at the phone and then at me.
"Who was that?" But before I could even contemplate answering, the world went black.
☽◐⬤◑☾
Lupin
She lay there. So still. So close to broken. Too close.
The wolf inside of me still paced with worry, but at least it had stopped its rage. When Tristan had first come back, her unconscious bloody body in his hands…
The wolf had not been pleased.
I had to leave. Had to calm myself before I hurt my friend. I knew it was not his doing, so too did my wolf. It had made it easier to soothe the beast. Yet still I had not been there when Tristan and Rayen tended to her. Had not been there when she awoke. Rayen relayed to me what had happened. The woman, my mate, had not been confused and frightened. She had not reacted like most humans would when faced with the paranormal. She had commanded Tristan and known how to handle the situation. She had called someone, someone she loved, or so Tristan had said.
My wolf also did not like that. He growled at the idea of her heart being claimed by another. I didn't entirely disagree, yet still I would let her go, if that was her happiness.
Watching her now, still asleep, sweating into my sheets. She was so delicate, blonde and small-boned though muscle lined under her flesh. I did not even know her name. Tristan said she had killed thirteen vampires. It was impressive considering I had mistaken her for human.
But she was not. That fact still hurt, like a knife in my heart. She was obviously very aware of this world. Probably knew instantly what I was to her on that street, yet still she had left. Still she had walked away.
It made me wonder a thousand things. This woman I knew nothing about, this stranger that I wanted, needed. Could she need me? Want me?
I had never thought it possible. Never thought myself deserving of that happiness. But I would be, for her I would try to deserve it.
I sighed, a long deep sigh, looking up to the ceiling. I didn't even know this girl. She wasn't mine.
But my wolf snarled, even at the thought. Wanting it, wanting her. I, again, couldn't disagree.
How weird this magic was. How real it made everything feel. Like true destined love, for a complete and total stranger. Who apparently wanted nothing to do with me. I sighed again.
I was raised with the understanding of the mating bond. All wolves had a mate, we were the only species that adhered to it so completely. So I knew what to expect but feeling it, actually experiencing it, was something wholly different.
She grunted and whined in her sleep. A whimper of pain. My wolf snarled and scratched, red flashed. Death. I would kill any and all that came near her. The urge rode me hard, too hard. I had come this close to tearing out Tristan's throat, my best friend, not to mention her savior. Rayen had had to step in, and even then my wolf still raged. My eyes closed against the heightening bloodlust, urging it back down.
She suddenly gasped and I snapped my eyes open. Only to meet hers. Bright blue and shining, as beautiful as they had been that first time I had seen her. Like stars shone in their depths, like she saw something exquisite in the world. Something I could not see.
The stars dimmed as she too found my eyes and shock filled her face. And then relief loosened her shoulders as she took me in.
"Are you okay?" I asked and she smiled. That's all it took. One small little half-hearted smile and I had decided. My wolf and I, both in agreement.
She would be mine.
☽◐⬤◑☾
Fable
I woke up again. The room was darker, the bed still massive. But the pain had lessened, now exhaustion and soreness. The nausea still rumbled in my gut, but the fire had turned more to a fever. A sheen of sweat coated me and I sat up slowly, grunting.
A man sitting in the armchair nearby looked at me. Our eyes met and I breathed. It seemed like the first time in days that I was able to just breathe.
Lupin sat forward, eyes never leaving mine. The man that had held the bucket, as well as the pretty girl, were nowhere to be seen. I leaned back, wincing at the pain. A long moment of silence passed between us, just looking at the other.
He looked exactly the same, utterly gorgeous. And to my relief, a worry I didn't know I had been harboring until this moment, he was completely intact. No wounds, not a scratch. I realized the same could not be said of me. He took a deep breath.
"Are you ok?" He asked, his voice was deep and I smiled, it was small, the best I could do. His presence was very demanding and I was exhausted, hearing his voice was somehow calming and excruciating at the same time.
"I'll survive." My voice was still a scratchy whisper, but the shift in his shoulders told me the effect was the same. I groaned inwardly, who's ever great idea it was to leave us in the same room alone, was insane. I tore my eyes away from him and stared at the ceiling. "At this point it's just my body trying to rid itself of the venom. The bites have already healed and now I'm just tired and queasy." I could hear the seat squeaking as he moved.
"So you're…" He cleared his throat in awkwardness, I glanced at him. "You're not human." I smiled, shaking my head and he nodded. He looked away from me, staring at something in the distance. I could tell he was mulling it over in his head, going through what it meant. And then something seeped into my gut, feeling it. I felt the sadness and hurt, the longing and pain. It was his, I knew, but it was also mine. And oddly enough knowing it was his pain, hurt more. I needed it to stop.
"Lupin." My voice was softer than intended, I realized I was close to tears. He looked up at me surprised, I smiled softly. "Please stop." It took a moment but he understood, he nodded and the pain and sorrow lessened. "Why?" I asked and he knew what I meant, I didn't have to elaborate. I wanted to know why he was sad.
He watched me for a long moment, deciding what to say. I almost told him he didn't have to tell me but then he started.
"When I saw you for that first time, and realized what we were…" He sighed, looking down. "I thought you were human. I figured you left because you didn't know what had happened and it freaked you out." He looked back up at me, the sorrow seeping again. "But you knew, didn't you?" Slowly I nodded, he closed his eyes and the pain sharpened, his pain. I almost choked, it was me, I was doing this to him.
"You left too." It was a weak defense, I knew, but I wanted to hear it for myself. Why he left. He shook his head, eyes still closed.
"I left to protect you, I thought you were human." It clicked, slowly in my exhausted brain, but I got it.
"The wolf?" He nodded, still refusing to open his eyes.
"Tristan was your guard. I had him follow you for days, just to make sure you were safe." I nodded, I understood the paranoia. I didn't fault him for it, in fact, I was rather grateful, I would be dead if not for Tristan.
That ever persistent silence settled in again. His eyes remained closed. I took that moment to watch him, to just look at him. How alive and real he was. He was big and muscled, but most werewolves were. His arms and legs were longer than most though, if he were human he would probably be lanky. His hair was still dark as pitch, curled and slightly disheveled. Light stubble ran across his chin and throat, I couldn't remember him having it before.
His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, my heart throbbed a little. My eyes skated down his throat to his shoulders and then his chest. He was really well built, even in the navy blue button down shirt he wore I could tell he was lined with muscles. Painting him would be glorious, I bit my lip, wondering if he'd be opposed to nude modeling. That thought, I realized, was the wrong thought to have. My eyes continued their trek down his body, his torso, his legs, his thighs, imagining all of him naked. My heart squeezed and my core probably would have heated if I wasn't so damn tired. I snaked my eyes back up his body, his long-fingered calloused hands, muscled arms, flat chest under the dark cotton, back up to his throat, and then his face. His sharp jawline, narrow lips and straight nose, and his eyes, his beautiful eyes, that were now open, staring straight at me. I almost shrieked, surprised and embarrassed, having been caught. His marvelously colored eyes now regarded me, shining a pure silver. The wolf watched me. I shivered and he groaned.
"You have to stop that." His voice was deep and husky, I could only imagine the self control he was expressing. The urges of the Bond were cut in half for me, due to the exhaustion and pain, yet still I felt the painstaking need to touch him, hold him, and make him mine. He growled low and harsh, it was a warning. And it meant he was past the point of speaking. I looked away quickly, forcing myself to think of dead dogs, soccer, mealworms, and math.
A few moments passed and I could feel him slowly relax. I carefully turned back to look at him, a small smug smile hung on his face, I rolled my eyes and sunk back into the pillows. He chuckled and I fought the urge to pull the covers over my head.
"Tristan said you called someone." I looked over at him. So the man that had held the bucket was also the wolf that had saved my life. It seemed I owed him quite a lot. I nodded at Lupin.
"My brother, Salem." Lupin sighed, it seemed to be relief, I cocked my head but he didn't explain.
"If you want he's allowed to come here, we could bring him if you wanted." I tried not to laugh out right at the idea that they could bring my brother anywhere. I just shook my head.
"He lives in New York. I was just assuring him." He raised an eyebrow and I explained. "His wife's an oracle, she sees the future. Unfortunately she only sees specific things, like the fact that I got hurt, but not the fact that I was rescued and survived." He didn't say anything but I could tell he had questions. The one he asked was:
"So you have no family in the city?" I went to shake my head and then remembered, sitting straight up and choking on a scream. The pain stabbing into me. Lupin stood up to help, but I waved him off. I really didn't want to find out what would happen if he touched me. I turned to him, still grimacing at the pain.
"My younger brother, Arrow." I release a shaking breath. "He doesn't live around here but he's visiting for the week." I groaned, settling back down. "He's probably going crazy trying to find me." Lupin nodded.
"We'll bring him here, don't worry." I smiled at him and shook my head.
"Leave a note on my door explaining what happened, he'll come to you." He shook his head.
"It'd be easier if-"
"Lupin." I cut him off, softly and he looked at me surprised again, I smiled. "You can not apprehend my brother. Just leave a note." He pressed his lips together but nodded. I took it as an agreement. I mean, if they did try, it was their funeral.
"You know my name." I looked over at him. It wasn't really a question but I nodded anyway.
"I heard her call you Lupin. The… girl." My voice growled even in my exhaustion. He chuckled lightly.
"Her name is Rayen." I grunted and he chuckled again. "She is my cousin." I gave a nice un-opinionated "huh". He smiled and looked at me for a few seconds.
"Do I get to know your name?" I started, realizing he didn't know. For me this week, staying away, had been torture, but at least I had a name for that torture. I looked at him, hating myself for being the cause of so much of his pain.
The insecure part of me hesitated, what if he didn't like my name? But I wanted to give him this, at least this, because, for now, I was unable to give him anything else.
"Fable." I said, my voice soft but firm. "My name is Fable Walker." Slowly, ever so slowly, a smile pulled at his lips.
"Well, I'm Lupin Hunt." I scoffed and smiled at him.
"Nice to meet you." He smiled back at me. A cat jumped up on the bed and almost scared me half to death. I recognized it immediately as a Norwegian Forest Cat, with it's fluffy mane and tail. The cat in front of me was white striped with black, her almond eyes glowing yellow in the dim lighting. She regarded me for a moment and then proceeded to curl up on my chest. I looked incredulously at Lupin and he laughed.
"Her name is Rane." He chuckled and shook his head. "You took her spot." I looked down at her and she watched me, then she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Carefully I petted her, her long fur was incredibly soft, I sighed as she purred against my chest. Lupin audibly snickered and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't even start, you're the werewolf with a cat for a pet." He shrugged and relaxed into the seat.
"She found me, I had no say." I chuckled, the relationship seemed familiar. Fatigue settled over me as the warmth of the cat rumbled against my chest. I smiled, my brain no longer in control of my mouth.
"When I called my mom to tell her about you, she told me that it was just like me to wind up mated to a werewolf. She said I had alway been original, she was happy I had stuck with it." I looked over at him smiling sleepily. "It makes total sense that you're also original. I mean look at you, you're a werewolf with a cat." I closed my eyes, the world fading away. "And have a banshee for a mate."
☽◐⬤◑☾
When I woke up the third time, the room was bright. Sunshine streaming in through the windowed walls all around me. I opened my eyes, blinking a few times and realized that I was not alone. Looking around at my company I smiled. There were two women, one I know as the pretty girl, Rayen, Lupin's cousin, the other I didn't know. Her hair was straight and black, her skin light brown and her dark brown eyes watched me from the couch, intrigued and slightly suspicious. There were also two men in the room. The one man looked almost exactly like the unfamiliar girl, except for the intrusion of a long scar, etched from his right temple, stretching across his cheek, and splitting his top lip. He stood near her, in front of the couch. The other man I recognized. Mousy light brown hair, pale skin and light blue eyes. He was built to intimidate, like all werewolves. I smiled at him and pointed, my fingers curling and arm twisting in my vision.
"I know you." I declared. Even I could hear the slur in my words. All of them raised their eyebrows and some smiled. The man I had pointed at, the wolf that had saved me and held a bucket for me, grabbed the finger I was waving in his face and shook it gently.
"You sound drunk." I scoffed, the sound dragged out and warped. The ones that hadn't smiled started. I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling.
"I'm not drunk, ok." The man, Tristan, nodded, smiling. "My body is just tired and my mind is de…" I struggled over the word. "Delusional." I managed spewing, the L's in the word overly enunciated. A few chuckled and I groaned.
"This is the worst way to make a good first impression." Tristan laughed.
"We promise to forget it ever happened." I turned and smiled brightly at him, my eyes squinting shut.
"Lovely." I muttered. The man with the scar turned to the woman I didn't know, his eyebrows raised.
"She doesn't seem like a Death detector." She tsked waving him away.
"Of course not." She shook her head. "We're never going to get any answers out of her like this." I smiled at her, lulling my head to the side.
"Ask away." The scar man gave the woman a disapproving look but she shrugged and turned to me.
"Lupin says you're a banshee." I groaned, arching my back and rolling around unnecessarily.
"He's horrible at keeping secrets." I whined. Tristan bit both his lips, trying desperately not to laugh. The scar-man turned away from judging the girl.
"You mean you really are a banshee? You scream when someone is about to die?" I stared at him trying to portray how offended I was, I don't think I succeeded.
"Nooo." I sighed, stretching the word. "That happened one time. One time! What does one usually do when they see a dead body? They scream. You know, it's surprising! One banshee discovers a dead body, screams, and suddenly that's what we do." I shook my head. "Some people are so stupid." Rayen cleared her throat stepping forward.
"So banshees don't sense when people die?" I squinted at her, I still didn't like her.
"No, we do." She blinked a few times, opened her mouth, closed it and nodded. They all seemed to need a minute to absorb this information so I took to studying the ceiling. It was Tristan who spoke first.
"If banshee's can sense death, how did the body surprise her?" I nodded and flung my arm at him, pointing again.
"You ask a very good question, sir." He smiled gently. "Banshee's have weaknesses just like all supernatural beings. Ours just isn't as bluntly named as wolfsbane." They all flinched as I said the word, but I paid it no mind. "Love is the banshee's weakness. We can't sense the death of those we love." I shrugged. "It's a blessing and a curse." A long silence initiated after that. Rane jumped up on the couch and it was then that I realized she had been missing. I took that break in conversation to play with the cat, braiding her long fur.
Tristan scoffed and I looked at him as he shared an amused look with Rayen. When he looked back he realized my attention. He smiled.
"While Lupin didn't keep the secret of what you are, he did forget to mention who you are. Could you tell us your name?" I smiled back at him. I knew I was delirious, but I decided I liked him.
"Fable." When I gave no more he nodded.
"I'm Tristan." He pointed over at the scar-man. "That's Declan." Then he motioned to the unfamiliar girl. "That's his sister, Ava. And I believe you know Rayen." I nodded, closing my eyes in discontent.
"I don't like her." Tristan seemed to choke and Rayen gawked, Declan and Ava pursed their lips trying not to laugh. Rayen stepped forward, her face incredulous.
"Um…" She looked between her friends and then back at me. "Why?" I squinted at her.
"You stood too close." I growled and a beat of silence echoed. Then slowly Rayen smiled and then she laughed.
"Yeah." She said, her voice lilting with amusement. "Sorry." I pursed my lips, not believing her. The others were smiling along with her amusement and I was worming my way into the covers, also trying not to upset the cat. The door at my left clicked open and Lupin walked in. He surveyed the scene and raised his eyebrows. Oh god he is beautiful. Rationally, in that part of my brain that processed rational thoughts, I knew my reaction to him was due to my delusions, but that didn't stop me.
"Lupin." I sang sitting up straight, the cat jumping off my chest. I reached my arms out to him, like a child wanting to be picked up. I smiled at him and he just stared. Tristan cleared his throat from behind me.
"She's drunk." He informed Lupin. I pursed my lips, dropping my arms.
"I'm not drunk." I mumbled.
"Sorry, she's delusional." He corrected and I smiled at Lupin, satisfied, and nodded.
"Great." He groaned and I pouted my lips out at him. He blinked twice and nodded, turning away from me.
"Lupin." I whined, and I could visibly see him tense as he moved, the room froze with him. But then he kept going as if nothing had happened. I huffed and flopped back down on the pillows. Declan sniggered as Lupin took the seat on the other side of the bed. Ava shook her head at her brother, smiling. And I watched them all, as they watched Lupin. All of them, very aware of his movements. Very attuned to his mood. I closed my eyes and groaned.
"Fuck me." I mumbled. Of course, of course!
"Fable?" Lupin asked, concerned. I covered my face with hands muttering curses. "What's wrong?" He asked. I threw my hands out on either side of me and laughed.
"You're the Alpha." Everyone in the room froze, and targeted me. I lulled my head to the side, looking at him almost upside down and smiled. "Of course you are." He studied me for a long moment, his jaw clenched. He was feeling me out, trying to comprehend what I was feeling. I let him, dropping the walls and letting him into that empty core that he encompassed. Slowly his jaw unclenched, and he stared at me, eyes shining. And because my walls were down I could feel him too, his happiness, his awe, his surprise, and the dimmer but still lingering sadness.
"You're really not upset?" I shook my head, and the room seemed to relax. I closed off the walls, that core empty once again. I looked away from him, I really had no place to judge him, and I didn't, I couldn't. I was a much worse sort of monster.
"Fable?" I looked up, surprised. Because that time I felt it. What it did when he said my name, like a string tied around my rib receiving a gentle tug. He smiled. "You ok?" I nodded. His face fell and he stood up, moving to me.
"What's wrong, love?" My brows narrowed at him, confused by his concern. He sighed and reached a hand across my cheek, brushing away my tears. I watched him, looking into his beautiful eyes. This was the closest he had ever been to me, the first time he had ever touched me. He was gentle, his fingers rough, it made me feel safe and relaxed. My breath hitched as the crying stopped and I stared straight into his eyes, not above begging at this point.
"Lupin." He stopped wiping away my tears. "Please." I whispered. "Sleep with me." Lupin's eyes went wide and he pulled his hand away taking a step back. The lack of his touch made me start crying again. In the background Trsitan was choking and Declan was patting his back, halfheartedly trying to assist. Rayen had both hands pressed against her mouth, trying desperately not to laugh.
"Please, just lie beside me. You-You make me feel safe." I implored, through rasping sobs. He watched me for a very long time, his face the picture of torn. He looked almost like he was in pain. Ava sighed and stood up, herding the crowd out of the room. Before she herself walked out the door she turned to Lupin.
"She's weak right now. She's in an unfamiliar place filled with werewolves. She feels unsafe. At this point the rational part of her mind has shut off, she's running only on instinct. And right now instinct is telling her that she is in an unsafe environment and you are unprotected." He broke his eye contact with me and looked up at her, from across the bed. "If you leave Lupin, she'll follow. She wants you to stay, not so that you can keep her safe, but so that she can keep you safe." He smiled softly and looked back at me. "Just lie beside her, Lupin. It will be good for both of you." And the door clicked shut behind her. He stood there watching me. I looked away. I had curled up, I felt so very hollow. If he left, she was right, I would follow.
I heard him sigh and felt him move away. A moment passed and I lifted my head preparing to beg. But hands grabbed me from behind. Pulling me by the shoulders and untucking my knees. He folded me against him and I wrapped my arms around his waist, forming my legs against his hips and tucking my head into his chest. His arm was draped over my shoulders and the other brushed through my hair.
We both let out a sigh of relief. This was something we had wanted to do since the first moment we saw each other in the crowd. I heard his heart, beating fast, in his chest. He was alive, so very alive. He was real and he was mine. Here we were safe, here I knew where he was and that he couldn't get hurt. If he were to leave…
I latched onto my hands and held him tighter. He cooed in my ear, smoothing down my hair.
"I'm not going anywhere." He whispered and my arms relaxed. I closed my eyes and the world faded to black.
☽◐⬤◑☾
When I woke up this time it was slower. Less of a startle from the reprieve of pain and more a rousing from a short nap. My head was foggy but it was a sleepy comfort. Rationality seemed to have returned as I remembered every embarrassing moment of what had happened. I groaned, pulling the blankets over my face, refusing to open my eyes.
A moment of mortification passed and then I remembered something else. And then I heard it. The quiet thumping of a resting heart. Repetitive and constant. Something deep inside of me ached and I opened my eyes, turning my head to look at him. Resting my chin on his shoulder and feeling the rise and fall of his chest.
A gentle rumpling snore echoed the repetitive beat of his heart. I smiled, every part of my soul content with just watching him. He was still breathtakingly beautiful. Even in the sunlight, though it was different. His hair, I had thought was an unforgiving black, shone with red and gold in the sun. His tan face glowed in the light and it was obvious to me that he was born pale. His closed eyes curled in long black lashes. And hidden, right under the line of his jaw was a knick of a scar. I hated it, the idea that he may have been hurt. I pressed a finger against the skin, gently dragging my nail across it.
For it to have scarred a werewolf it must have been impressive, typically they heal too fast to scar. I sighed, succumbing to the repetition of rubbing my finger against the inch long lightened flesh. Belatedly, I realized the stubble running down his throat and over his cheeks had lessened, though it was still there, I could feel my fingernail catching on the rough surface. He must have shaved at some point.
"It's an old scar." I started out of my reprieve, lifting my head to face his beautiful eyes. He regarded me gently and smiled awkwardly. "I got it when I was twelve. Thought it'd be cool to climb a fence. I got all the way to the top when I slipped and my chin went straight into the barbed wire." I grimaced slightly, the image unkind to my soul. I pulled away from him, resting my head into the pillows, all too content to just listen to him talk. Half of me was terrified he'd just disappear. I could tell his fear was the same as he prattled on, it was nice, in an odd sort of way.
"My mother was convinced I was going to die." His face scrunched up in amusement at the memory. "My father was secretly proud, but knew if he showed it my mother would give him hell. With time it healed," he turned to me, smiling. "And I didn't die, but I was young and it left a mark." I pulled the blanket closer to me, shivering. He sat up slightly.
"Are you cold?" He asked, and the genuine concern was a little disarming. I shook my head.
"Banshee's run cold, we like it." I explained simply. He reached out, intrigued, and grabbed my hand. His eyes narrowed.
"You don't feel cold." I laughed lightly, shaking my head again.
"No, we don't, never quite understood it either. But winter is still our favorite season and you can almost always find a banshee curled up by the fireplace. Even in the dead of summer." He raised an eyebrow, his lips still pulled in a smile. I shrugged, or tried to, while lying on my side. "It's true, it's odd, even to me. But it's true all the same." He chuckled lightly, and turned away to stare at the ceiling. A long comforting moment of silence passed. Just listening to the other breathing, still a surprise that we were so close, so real.
I sat up, leaning against the headboard. Finding Rane curled at my feet. As I moved she lifted her head to regard me, eyes slightly squinted with sleep. Apparently satisfied, she stood up and curled up in my lap. I smiled and brushed my hand across her back, she purred along. I glanced to the side at Lupin, eyes raised at his wolfish grin.
"My cat likes you." Was all he responded with. I shrugged, and continued petting.
"Ok, what are we going to do?" I asked. He huffed a sigh, apparently he didn't want to have this conversation. I waited, it was important and he had no choice. He smiled, siftly amused and turned to me. The amusement faded and the seriousness of the conversation settled on his face.
"I can't go back to pretending you don't exist." I took a long deep breath and shifted to look at him.
"Me neither." A smile pulled at his lips and I gave him points for trying to hide it. I shook my head and turned back to the expanse of the room. Being close to him was comforting but it definitely had it's problems. I groaned internally, trying to calm down my heart beat. I knew he could hear it but he didn't say anything, he got more points for that as well.
"So?" He started. I leaned back and looked at him. He sighed, forging ahead. "Do we put all our cards on the table or are we going to learn as we go?" I huffed a little sigh and started twisting the cat's long fur between my fingers. Lupin sniggered softly. "Well I know what that means." I turned to him, imploring.
"You don't know me, Lupin." He sighed, refusing to look at me. "You can't trust me and I can't trust you." His jaw tightened. "I can't give you all my cards, not now. And maybe not ever." His eyes darted to me, glowing a dim silver. The wolf was peering in. I sighed and grabbed his open hand. "I'm giving you an out, Lupin. It's possible you won't want to trust me after all of this is over." Slowly his eyes dimmed and the hand I was holding, held mine back.
"I am willing to give you everything." I shook my head, even as my heart contorted.
"You don't know me, Lupin. What happens if a skeleton falls out of my closet and it freaks you out so badly, you don't even want to look at me." He smiled softly, apparently amused.
"I don't think you're capable." I sighed, taking his hand in both of mine and looking him right in the eye.
"Trust me, I am." He watched me for a moment and slowly nodded, once. I tore my eyes away, letting go of his hand but he held fast to mine. I let him keep my hand. I think he needed it about as much as I did. A connection, a centering, shutting off the aching need, subsiding it, just slightly.
"Do you have any cards you want to put on the table?" I smiled at him and nodded. He had offered me everything, it was only fair that I give him something.
"Well first off I'm a banshee. My entire family consists of banshee's. I have three siblings. My older brother, Salem, my younger brother, Arrow, and my sister, the youngest, Echo." I shifted, looking up at the ceiling as he softly brushed his thumb over the back of my hand. "I'm twenty-six. My birthday is April 15th. I grew up in New York, the state not the city. I moved to Philly for college. I attended and graduated from the University of Arts. I am now a successful artist, and that's rather difficult to do. I own two apartments, one that I live in and one that I work in." He raised an eyebrow and I rolled my eyes. "Sometimes I need to host and entertain art collectors, sellers, or buyers. I must woo museum owners and art producers, and for that I need… fancier accommodations." He nodded his head and I scoffed. I bundled deeper into his mountain of pillows and blankets. Rane softly protests at the movement.
"Your turn." I muttered, closing my eyes. His fingers were still fiddling with my hand, it was managing to be calming and intoxicating at the same time. An all around frustrating experience, that I didn't want to end.
"Very well, let's see," He hmm. "I'm a werewolf and the Alpha of the Pennsylvania Pack. I was raised here, in this very complex, though I resided on a lower floor. When my sister and I were old enough to take care of ourselves my parents left. They decided to live out the rest of their lives in the valleys and views of Virginia. We call often but with me being an Alpha of a different pack, visitation is difficult. My older sister, Ember, is the Judge for the Pack. She deals with the laws and rules. If a dispute breaks out and the laws don't clearly state a solution she steps in and mediates. You'll meet her at some point, currently she's trying to smooth over some of the disgruntled folk that don't approve of you being here." I sat up concerned, the cat sulked off the bed, offended. Lupin gentled me back down. "It's fine, Fable. They're old traditionalists and have no actual ground to stand on, Ember will win. She always does. And even if she didn't you are allowed to be here, by my decree." A growl deepened his voice and I chuckled.
"Scary." He narrowed his eyes but slowly smiled.
"If you were anyone else…" I smiled brightly at him.
"But I'm not. I suppose it's a good thing all of my instincts say you're the safest thing in the world." He shook his head but the smile stayed on his lips.
"I suppose so." I giggled at his attempt not to show his delight. I knew what it was to be a monster, you just expected others to view you the same. It was always a surprise when they weren't afraid. But I had never been afraid of him, and I truly believed I never would.
"Continue." I demanded simply and he chuckled, but obliged.
"As time went on I got stronger and bigger. People started challenging me, just to prove that they could win. When they didn't, I started to rise. Unintentional as it was, I really had no say. If a wolf is challenged they must agree, so I fought for my life and won. It got to the point where I could rise no farther and no one else could challenge me. I suppose you could say I accidentally became Alpha." He smiled, but I could feel the pain of it through the Bond. Like every monster, I also understood what it was to take a life. To kill, even when you didn't want to. He felt my understanding, just as I had felt his pain, our eyes met for a moment sharing in our hurt. He grunted and turned away.
"As I rised, so did my friends. Now don't get me wrong, they are entirely capable on their own, but with my increasing power in the Pack a path was easily cleared for them. Rayen and Ember are my only blood relatives but they are all my family. We grew up on the same floor, basically we were raised together. Not to mention that Tristan is Rayen's Mate and Declan is Ember's." I couldn't help but smile at the love I felt from him when he talked about is family. "Ava is my Emissary and has yet to find her Mate. Declan is the Pack's Executioner. Tristan is the Chief of Security. And Rayen is my Second, if I'm not around she's in command." I smiled at him.
"They seem like a fun group." He shrugged.
"I mean, I'm biased." I chuckled and we lapsed into a comforting silence. He smiled warmly at his inner thoughts and I raised my eyebrows. He turned to me and prepared a response.
"When I first saw you and told Rayen what we were, I mean we thought you were human at the time, and she told me I had two options. To either bring you into this world of magic and monsters or to leave you to live your life. But she promised, they all did, that no matter what I decided they would make sure nothing bad happened to you." He shook his head. "I just wanted you to know that even if you refuse me, you still have allies here, and you will always have an ally in me." I smiled kindly at him.
"I don't think you can say that just yet." He shrugged.
"But I did." I laughed.
"You really don't like listening to me do you?" At that he grimaced and I turned, waiting patiently.
"Your brother is here." It took a moment to connect but then I smiled, brightly amused.
"You didn't listen to me did you?" He grimaced fuller and I almost choked on a laugh. "Is anybody dead?" I knew the answer, if they were I'd feel it, but he shook his head all the same, lips pursed.
"But they all returned injured, some are still healing." I chuckled.
"And my brother?"
"He's waiting in a room. He seems jubilant." He sneered at the statement but I nodded smiling.
"It's not everyday that you get to fight werewolves." He narrowed his eyes while sitting up to watch me.
"Can you do what he did?" I shook my head, he waited but I wasn't going any further. That was one card I was keeping. He bit his lip but nodded, accepting the secret.
"Tristan says you killed thirteen vampires before he stepped in." I hissed.
"Yeah, they surprised me. How many were there in total?" He cocked a brow.
"Seventeen." I tsked. If only I had been prepared. "If you ask me it's a rather big accomplishment." I gave him a look and he held up both hands in surrender, a smile on his face.
"I almost died in case you forgot. And I'm not human, I'm a banshee, I should have been able to kill them all." I huffed. "They're just vampires." I spat the word like a curse. I really didn't like vampires.
"Do you know why they came after you?" Lupin inquired, I shrugged.
"It could be nothing. Vampires are attracted to banshee's." He cocked his head and I nodded. A trade secret perhaps, but a card I was willing to give him. "If you look up banshees on google or wikipedia it classifies us as Undead. But we're not, I was born, I grew up, and I'll die at some point. Though… I wouldn't really classify us as living either. Banshee's have a foot in the threshold of Death, that's how we sense when a person is dying. Some banshee's, who are strong enough to step into the Veil and not be sucked away, can commune with the dead. But while we are attracted to Death, the Undead are attracted to us. They seek us out involuntarily. And sometimes when they travel in a pack…" I shrugged. "It presents a problem." His face was flat, I didn't know what to make of it.
"But typically you would have beaten them?" He asked, his voice just as flat. I nodded, slightly confused.
"Yeah, I mean, if I had my sword, all would have been fine." His brows raised but his face remained unreadable.
"Your sword?"
"Yeah, I typically have it with me but it's kind of conspicuous to take it with me everywhere." He nodded, face still emotionless. A moment passed and still nothing changed, I huffed exasperated.
"Okay, what is happening?" I asked drawing a circle around his face in the air. He looked at me contemplating and then sighed.
"I'm trying to figure out the best way to make sure this never happens again." That's when I felt it, his despair and worry. I could still physically feel how relieved I was that he was unhurt and perfect. I couldn't imagine what it would feel like if he had appeared to me, after days of resisting my instincts, broken and close to death. Even thinking about it hurts.
I sat up, tucking my knees under me and taking his face in my hands. The touch was different, warmth flooded down my arms, licking at my veins like liquid electricity. I could tell he felt it too. He looked down at my hands, I pushed his chin up forcing him to meet my eyes.
"Hey." I hummed softly. And I saw his mask break, slowly crumbling down, letting me see. His eyes radiated the overwhelming worry and sadness. The fear that had been looming over him this entire time, that I was going to die. I sighed deeply, it was almost too much, this amount of compassion, and for me. "I'm fine, Lupin." I whispered, reassuring him. He let out a shuddering breath. "I'm alright, I promise." He nodded and seemed to relax, I could see it physically, as my words convinced him. I brushed my fingers through his hair, combing around his ear. "And I promise, this is not that regular of an occurrence." He nodded again and fell against me. His forehead against my shoulder and wrapped his arms around my waist. I knew he needed this, to feel my presence, feel my aliveness. I needed it too, maybe not as much, but I wrapped my arms around his head. Feeling him, smelling him. He smelled of wolf; forest and pine and sandalwood. It was addicting, it was intoxicating. I groaned, nuzzling my face into his soft, dark hair.
"It's insane that this feeling isn't real. That it's all just magic." Even I could hear the huskiness of my voice, though, thankfully, only I could feel the longing between my legs and heaviness in my core. I felt him laugh under me and obliged as he slowly pulled out of my arms.
"Fable, the mating Bond is as real as any other magic." I blinked, twice.
"Huh, I never thought about it that way." He smiled, picking up a lock of my hair and twisting it between his fingers.
"Well for wolves we all have a mate, born with our other half somewhere in the world and we only have one. We mate with one person our entire lives and no one else." It took a moment for me to process that. I pulled back a little, to fully look at him, the strand of hair falling out of his fingers.
"You mean you've never been with anyone else? Ever?" He shook his head, I gaped. "At all?" He laughed and reached up, brushing my hair behind my ear.
"I have been with no girl, or guy for that matter, in my entire life. I have waited, like all wolves do, for my mate." He shrugged. "For you." I nodded slowly. I needed a moment to process this, or two. He chuckled silently and placed his fingers under my chin, the sensation running down my neck. He lifted my face up to meet his.
"I am aware you are not a wolf, Fable. And I would not judge you if you have been with… someone." I shook my head, still processing.
"No, that's- that's not... It's just, well, all my life I had believed werewolves to be insatiable horn dogs." I chuckled darkly. "Now I feel like I've been lied to my entire life." He laughed.
"Well we are. We just have beliefs and rules, and like sticking with them." He shrugged and I nodded again. I couldn't imagine what my face looked like, I just couldn't get over it. For the majority of their lives, werewolves, werewolves, were virgins. It was… it was a revelation if ever I'd experienced one.
"Have you?" I looked up at him, his question knocking me out of my thoughts.
"Huh?" I asked and he smiled softly.
"Have you ever been with someone?" I really looked at him then. What he said had been true, if I had been with someone he wouldn't hold that against me but he did care. He wanted to know. I sighed and smiled at him.
"No. No, my sister was right. My love life is nonexistent." Though he tried as hard as he could to hide his delight, he still smiled. "Banshee's have difficulty loving someone, as I said earlier, it's our weakness, one of the few. And unfortunately for you, I have an even harder time than most banshee's." He raised his brows, silently imploring. I said nothing.
"Why?" He asked, wanting an answer. I shook my head and he sighed.
"You apparently have a lot of… cards." I smiled and nodded. He sighed again pulling away and slipping out of bed. "I'll get Rayen to bring you a change of clothes and then I'll take you to your brother." I nodded but as he moved away I felt it again and knew he had to feel it too. The shearing of our skin and ripping of our flesh. Like our bones had been fused together and resented the idea of being torn apart. So they tried to stay, like magnets, uncaring and unaware of the skin that encased them. And for as agonizing as it felt, nothing physically happened. I stared at him as he looked at me, the same pain reflected in our eyes.
"Is that normal? For mated wolves?" He shook his head.
"No. No, I'm beginning to believe that nothing about us is normal." I smiled and nodded, agreeing. And as he left the tearing intensified. He was out the door and gone for moments and still the pain grew. I gritted my teeth refusing to scream and just when I thought I was going to break down in sobs, it stopped. The pain subsiding. He had gotten far enough away. Though how he had managed to move through that pain I would never understand. It seemed Fate wanted us to be together, desperately.
I sighed, the emptiness inside my core hollowed out. His absence was stark and despairing. The urge to cry consumed me again. Rationally I knew he was only a few moments away, but my bond or whatever didn't care. I had to be with him, because while the pain of us separating was horrible this emptiness, consistent and never ending, was true torture.
The door opened and Rayen walked in, a pile of clothes in her arms. She looked at me and rushed over, throwing the clothes on the bed. She wrapped her arm around me and held my hands tight.
"Don't worry, it will pass." She assured, her gentle tinkling voice calming and firm. And I sobbed, clinging to her as if she were my life support. The emptiness grew into a hollowness I couldn't escape, like my insides were rotting away. I was being eaten from the inside out. Softly Rayen soothed me, rocking my shaking body back and forth, smoothing down my hair. She hummed a soft song, her singing voice prettier than her regular angelic one.
It was a horrible experience, I was half sure I was dead. Rayan's presence helped, and she was right, it ebbed. Slowly the emptiness settled. Like waves it had crashed and slammed against the rocks until I was eroded away, nothing but sand and dust.
I pulled away from her and whispered my thanks, my voice a rasp, like I had been screaming for days. She smiled at me and nodded.
"The Lack will lessen if you accept the bond, or, you know, if you don't, time will lessen the… force of it." I looked up at her, brows raised, in the process of wiping away my tears. She realized my confusion as she slid away from me. "Oh, um, the Lack, it's what we wolves call it. The absence of our mate, the emptiness in our soul that only they can fill. You know," She shrugged. "The Lack." She did her best to explain, I smiled at her awkwardness and nodded understanding. She smiled sweetly back at me, she truly was beautiful, like sunshine embodied.
"Sorry I didn't like you." She smiled brighter and brushed it off with a wave of her hand.
"It's fine, really, I completely understand. Honestly, if someone had stood that close to Tristan in our early days, I would have gutted her. I mean, I wouldn't even fault you if you punched me in the face right now." I grimaced.
"Don't tempt me, part of me still really wants to rip out your throat." She laughed, completely unthreatened.
"That urge will lessen too. However, whether you accept it or not, it will take time." I smiled at her.
"Wonderful, I would so love to look at you and not wish you were dead." That time the statement stuck, her smile faltered for only an instant. It's something about banshees and death, the threat always hits home. She twisted at her waist and picked up the pile of clothes behind her.
"Here, for you." She said, holding the pile out to me. "I think we should be relatively the same size." I smiled and thanked her. I inspected the clothes, black jeans and a white button up blouse. I must have made a face.
"Something wrong?" I looked up at her.
"Oh, no. It's just that I don't wear white. I'm a painter and it just tends to get messy." She waved it off again.
"Werewolf." She said pointing to herself. "You can do what ever you want with it, I don't wear white either." I chuckled and kicked off the bed making my way to the bathroom to change. When I came out she was still on the bed. The clothes fit well enough. Nothing needed to be tucked or rolled desperately. The shirt ended a little high on me but luckily the jeans were high waisted, so my belly was only in view if I lifted both arms up real high. I would just have to avoid roller coasters for the day.
I stopped in front of Rayen and smiled. She looked at me with apprehension on her face and a question in her eyes. I cocked my head.
"Go ahead and ask." She bit her lip but nodded.
"Are you going to accept Lupin as your Mate?" I heaved a long sigh. She stood up to face me on the same level.
"Look, Lupin's my cousin, so I'm biased. But he's a really good person. He did not want to be Alpha, but he was given the job, and he does it wonderfully well. I realize you don't know him all that well-"
"And that's exactly it, Rayen. I don't know him and I don't love him, not yet. It's not the same as it was for you, you've known your mate your entire life. I've only known he's existed for a little over a week." She pursed her lips trying not to smile. I raised a brow at her, imploring. She shrugged.
"Well, I didn't exactly accept Tristan right away." I tsked at her, smiling. "He was my best friend, I didn't want to ruin that." She defended.
"Oh so you're biased and a hypocrite." I teased, she rolled her eyes and sighed.
"All I'm saying is that you should give him a chance. Lupin deserves happiness." I looked away, down at the floor smiling soberly and then back up at her.
"You know, both my mother and my sister said the same thing to me. That I should give him a chance and that I deserve happiness." She brightened, stepping closer.
"Then why don't you accept?"
"Because," I shrugged. "I don't agree." She scoffed and licked her lips.
"You know he said the same thing to me. When I told him that he deserved happiness, that he deserved love. He said I was wrong." There was so much anger in her voice and so much sadness. The love she had for her cousin breaking her words. And it was her words I thought on, because they confounded me.
Even with my own protesting and resisting, now I had met Lupin and I… I liked him. Despite myself, I truly did like who he was. He was kind and strong and undisputedly loveable. Perhaps not by me, but it was definitely possible to love him, dare I say, easy.
But I didn't say any of that, I just looked at her and nodded.