Malakai's Point Of View:
I could hear a faint tapping on glass that pulled me out of my dreaming state. A few more taps convinced me to open my eyes and looked towards the window in my bedroom. I growled playfully in aggravation as I saw a bird tapping the glass. I got up fast and ran for it. As I came for it, it flew off startled. I laughed as I watched it fly back to safety in the forest. "Wake me up," I muttered before yawning. Serves the damn bird right- a scare. "Alexia what time is it?" I asked as my Alexia chimmed back, 'it's twelve p.m.' I groaned and stretched out my muscles. Does this pack ever sleep around here?
I wonder if Vivienne is still here?
I walked back to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and took it off the charger before giving Viv a call. I waited untl the phone went straight to voice mail. Huh. I gave it another go just in case before hanging up before it took me to voice mail. I growled outwardly in irritation. Fine! I didn't want to hang out with my sister anyways... Yes I do. If I want to see her I'll have to hunt her down it looks like.
'Good Morning Mal,' My wolf Moro howled happily in my head. 'Today is the day, I can feel it. Something is going to happen that'll change everything.'
I chuckled at his light comedy. He's said that every morning since I've been here. He hasn't been too wrong. A lot has happened since coming home. He's got a great sense at these things.
'Good moring, Moro,' I thought back to him. I hope todays the day I break my leg and can't transform for a week like Viv did. I HATE having to do pack duties. I glanced around my room. I've renovated it since being home. It was the first thing I done when I got a chance. It no longer looked like my cringy teenage years. It was now modern and elegant. My room was one of the lucky ones in the house with a balcony. I decided to put out there a table for breakfast or tea. A small sitting area was by the double door balcony. A stone chess set was in between two couches on a glass coffee table. My favorite thing about my grown up room. On the wall was the biggest flat screen TV I could buy. My curtains were now thin sheer and white. So it would let in a lot of sunlight to my nice and white open spaced bedroom. My room was all high tech. My lights were ran through alexia now and soon I would get around to modernizing my bathroom. I didn't plan on staying here much longer...
I want to leave.
I want to be in a city.
'Stop thinking those terrible thoughts, Mal. You are a werewolf. This is where you belong.' Moro reminded me. He was happy to be back in pack territory. He was eating it up.
I ran my fingers through my hair as I walked into the bathroom to take my second shower since I've been home. I stopped walking as Moro howled in alarm for me to freeze. I felt a booming siren of a call in my head as a louder howl rung deep through my soul.
'PACK MEETING,' I could hear Alpha Brendon's harsh voice. Someone must've angered him. I pouted as I let go of the door handle to my bathroom and changed directions, going to the closet. I took off my silk pajama set and changed into something a little more my style.
I dressed in all black, just a plain t-shirt, pants, and converse. I wasn't sure if this pack meeting would involve me stripping so I decided my fashion would have to stay in the closet. I sighed heavily as I could feel Moro's excitement at the thought of running. I took off downstairs to the garage to get my vehicle and drive to the pack house. When I got there, I noticed Viv's car was still parked.
'Did she go with someone else?' I wondered. Alpha Brendon might've picked her up and took her already. I frowned and turned on my heels before going back towards the hall she slept on. I smelled the air to do some detecting, finding her scent stale like she hasn't been home in quite awhile. I walked up to her bedroom and opened the door and glanced inside. If I go in she'll know. I'll just sneak a look. Just to be safe. I glanced around her room and caught the sight of her phone buzzing on her nightstand. I broke my code of ethics and walked up to it before looking at the caller ID.
Niall?
I sat the phone down and glanced around before feeling goosebumps crawl up my arms. Where would she go without her phone? I looked towards the window and towards the woods. Of course. She's out there somewhere. I heard a creak in the floor behind me, alerting someone was in here with me. I tensed up and looked over my shoulder at a complete stranger. Niall's phone was in his hand. I recogized the phone case. He hung up and Viv's phone went silent.
"Who are you?" I asked in alarm.
The man held back a smirk. I could catch a small glint in his eyes. It reminded me of the rogue that almost killed me. I couldn't protect Vivienne that day… His eyes were showing his intent to kill me. I caught him in the act of coming here- and stealing this phone? But, it still doesn't answer the question of why he has Niall's phone. 'He's not a werewolf,' Moro warned me. I smelled the air as I caught on a disgusting rotten scent. It reminded me of decay. Like death. His grin widened until he broke his jawbone to smile larger. I felt terror enter and block up my lungs. Drool and blood oozed out of his mouth as he exposed four sharp arrow like canines. 'This is a good warning to run,' Moro thought as I felt glued to the ground. What the fuck is he? 'Or Transform so maybe we have a better chance,' Moro almost commanded me.
Moro was right. I had to do something now. But I was frozen in fear. The guy moved towards me and laughed as he put the phone in his pocket. He was wearing shredded clothes. He reminded me of a homeless guy. His clothes dirty and barely holding together. His hair was falling out and tattered gray. His skin unbelievably changing from a pink and wholesome color to a deadly sickening gray as the blood ran out of his mouth. His eyes were blood shot. Dark circles under. Why was he laughing at me? I didn't want him to come any closer as I stared his movement down. It was unnatural. Even his breathing was non existent. This man is dead and walking towards me.
My emotions were out of control as I had flashbacks to the rogue. I felt trapped as I felt my knees hit the nightstand and force me into a sitting position on it.
Vivienne, my dear sister what's happened to you?
Where is Niall? Did they get him too?
It struck me clearly.
Lamia.
What Vivienne and Niall discussed on our run the other day was about Lamia. And a war with blood thirsty monsters. V- vampires. Is this a vampire?
'No…. I don't think so,' Moro told me. 'Please, you have to run now, Malakai.'
I felt like I was going to vomit as I inhaled his foul scent. My mind raced on trying to get away safely. I have to strategize! I have to! I watched him coming with an extra long stride. His movement and speed startled me as he slipped on his blood and came tumbling into me. It was like my body shouted; now!
I grabbed him with outstretched arms to keep him away from my neck and our bodies interlocked in a strength match. I fought as he locked his joints to push his weight towards me. I kept pushing until I was able to stand. His jaw was healing back into place as he glared daggers into my eyes. I looked back into his as I fought to keep him away.
How can a creature with such a weak appearance… have this much strength? I was trembling as my arms were ready to give out. He kept pushing with luck on his side. "Give up," he whispered to me. "Give in," he mused like a siren. I locked in on his eyes and felt my heart steady in my chest.
Give up.
Give in.
Give up.
Give in.
Give up.
Give in.
My arms dropped suddenly as I felt an alarming weak feeling overcome me. I dropped to my knees and face placed the floor. His boots were the only thing I could see as he had stepped back enough.
What is going on, Moro?
'It seems we have been persuaded by a powerful tongue,' I could hear Moro's weak voice distancing from me.
No.
No.
No!
How is this possible?
I felt my weak body being pushed over onto my back as the man's face appeared in my vision. He seemed to have a better control over his appetite. His cold fingers moved from my cheek to my chin as he gripped it tightly. The pressure growing until I let out an involuntary scream. He's going to make me suffer. He will have plenty of time to do so.
This beast is controlling me some how. I didn't realize it until now. But it started the minute I became aware of his presence. He's truly- admirable. Scary- but interesting. He's had me under his control all along. He's created fear in me I haven't felt before and now he's persuaded me to stay still… for him.
Even though I want to run.
I now want to stay.
His eyes were hungry but the phone in his pocket went off and distracted us. He answered Niall's phone after checking the ID. He sat down on my stomach and placed a hand over my mouth as he listened for a voice.
"Is it done?" I heard a familiar voice asking.
Niall?
"I'm finishing the job right now," the vampire assured my brother.
What is going on?
"You haven't been seen, right?" Niall growled out. "This is very important."
The vampire looked at me as he gave a dead serious answer, "no. Everything's as quiet as a mouse here. I'm headed out now."
"Your payment will be transferred now. Leave my phone somewhere downstairs on your way out."
What has Niall done!?
D-Did he set something up?
I smelled the room, trying to find out but the blood thirsty beast was all I could smell. His scent was musking any smells I might pick up. V-Vivienne what did Niall do to you?
"You got it, boss." He muttered as he hung up on my brother. He looked into my eyes as he took the hand off my lips. "As for you," he whispered to me and caressed my cheek. "Do you want to get out of here?"
The question.
What a lifetime of opportunities it provided as he asked it.
It's like he knew I was sick of this place.
I hate it here.
But, Vivienne needs me.
She'll be helpless if I go.
And, I love my sister.
Because she's all I've had over the years.
She's been there even when she didn't know it.
I've been there trying to protect her as well.
"Only to hunt down my sister," I assured him. This being my answer that I couldn't go with him. My determination would only be to make sure she's safe. I couldn't let this oportunity of freedom tempt me away from making sure she's safe. "What happened to her?" I asked curiously to see if he'd know or even tell me. I'm just glad I'm getting words from the souless beast. He didn't seem like the type to talk, earlier. He pursed his lips and in his eyes I could see disappointment.
"Probably dead by now," he told me. I felt my heart stop in shock. Tears filled up in my eyes. No, it can't be. She's not dead. Vivienne is a fighter.
"Liar," I accused.
"Oh, I wish I was the only liar in your life," he mused seductively.
"What are you going to do to me?" I asked weakly. I've refused going with him. This means there is only one thing he can do to me. Kill me. It's the only way he can assure my silence. I now know too much. The question amused him as he let out an unnatrual purr.
"I'll break your mind and make it hard for you to remember this morning."
His hand grasped my mouth and he leaned into my ear.
"If we had met on a different day... I would have stole you away," he promised me. "But now you won't even remember me," he husked out. I trembled in a cold sweat as his breath hit my neck. My hormones going crazy. Normally- a wolf's neck was a percious and secred spot. Something mates used to share a sacred bonding ritual in. But this- made me was to inwardly break down and die. His bones echoed in my ear as it snapped down with a powerful force on my weak skin. I howled in pain. My emotions seemed to take me someplace else as I vapidly grew weaker. Everything was dropping out of existence around me. The memory of the rogue breaking my neck days ago ran through my mind. That's right... I died. How was I still living after it?
That's right, my very existence was unknown to me even now.
I remember I had died that day.
Now I remember, Fang...
My enviroment moved into a blank space as my memory was being swipped from me. The taste of blood on my lips as I bit down into something hard. My thoughts lingered on Fang whispering to me days earlier, everything would be okay. He was granting me an extra life to use wisely. The blood I tasted on my lips and the texture I felt on the skin I bit into- reminded me of the kiss of life Fang granted me in the E.R. Where feet away- Vivienne was in surgery to reset her leg. This felt so similiar.
But that was just a vivid past event. And when I fluttered my eyes open I looked into a mirror at myself. I was holding a wet towel on my neck. My bathroom was behind me in the mirror. I looked at my wrinkled clothes and tilted my head. What just happened? What times is it? I pulled the towel off my neck and looked at a scar healing over. What is that? I felt my heart fluttering as I looked at teeth marks.
"Who made that on me?" I muttered to myself.
My bathroom door flung open as my father broke the door handle to get in. "MAL!?" He yelled in concern. It made me realize he had been yelling quite awhile for me.
"Dad?" I asked uncertainly. What did I miss? I'm missing time... I can feel it.
"Malakai," he scolded. It reminded me of the voice he used on Vivienne before. "Your sister is missing," he told me. "We found your scent in her bedroom. Do you remember anything?" He asked. I shook my head as I caught his eyes on my neck. "Vampires," he muttered quietly to himself. I laughed weakly but stopped as I caught the seriousness on his face.
"Dad what happened?" I asked quickly.
"We think Vivienne's been kidnapped," I heard Niall say as he walked into the bathroom. His eyes looking me over and landing on the markings on my neck. He wrinkled up his nose in obvious distaste. "What did they do to you, Mal?" He asked.
"I don't remember anything... I think I'm missing time," I admitted as I saw them both look concerned. Niall pulled out his phone and muttered about calling Brendon to alert I've been found. My dad was already calling someone on his. Fang suddenly walked into the room and looked us three over before his eyes landed on me.
"Oh good, you've been found," he said carelessly. "Where's your sister?"
"That's what i'm trying to figure out," I admitted.
My father dropped to his knees. It forced all eyes on him we watched. He trembled as he held the phone to his ear. Suddenly it slipped out of his hand. Niall was by his side, scooping up the phone to check on it's condition. He then grasped father's hand in his and looked him in the eyes. Father busted into tears as he looked Niall in the eyes.
"What happened?" Niall urged out.
"Someone killed your brother. While we were in the pack meeting... They snuck into the ER and smothered him with his own pillow."
Father's words brought my breathing to a hault in fear. How could someone be so cruel?
"It's Lamia," Fang said. There was no doubt about it written on his face. He was positive. The beast we all were learning to fear in our nightmares... The one Niall and Vivienne talked about durring the run the other day. "She's doing this to cover something up. Most likely she didn't want some information to be leaked through your son. Just like they've covered Mal's mind up. Lamia has taken your luna. She's going to use her as a pawn. If she keeps your luna long enough, your alpha will-"
"Loose his mind," Niall whispered and looked distraught from it. We all were feeling that way. "He'll eat this whole pack- after acusing us all of harming her."
"We better get moving," Fang said as he walked out the door quickly. "TIME IS UPON US!"
I looked towards Niall and saw a hidden anger dancing in his eyes. He blinked it away when I glanced at him. He helped my father to his feet. "We can't mourn when Vivienne is still out there," he reminded father. "Plus we still have Cal to worry for," he said thoughtfully.