Amoura trudged through the forest as the skies settled into a calm drizzle, drenched as she was, with her tank top and skinny jeans uncomfortably clinging to her skin, what she felt most was not the cold looming in the air as it tried to forcibly seep through her skin only to freeze her bones, nor the pain from the wound that had begun to seal itself, it was a sense of relief, as if she were finally free and uncaged, and her soul felt like running wild with the wind blown sails exploring vast open seas.
Yet even then, it couldn't distract from the fact that she would be hunted again, as much as she hoped that they would give up, she knew that hunters were the unrelenting type, that they would go after her even if it's only to find her and kill her, for she was now a threat to them. Refusing to worry about it and quite at piece with rather dying than being captured by them again, she decided to focus on getting home.
At least she hoped that that is where the insistent painful tug was pulling her to, for it seems that the more distance she covered the lesser the pain became, meaning she was at least getting close. Even though she couldn't remember the home she had had before she was captured, she just knew that that was where she was headed, whether home would still be home to her when she finally gets there was the million-dollar question.
Perhaps they have even forgotten about me, she thought to herself. A two story building came into view, a modernised cabin, the first story was nothing but brick that extended to the second story, only to be infused with a wall entirely made of glass that glistened like a mirror that made it impossible for one to see within from the outside. Small trees were scattered haphazardly around and she was sure that either Marvin or Nana could have already spotted her from the inside, as she walked toward the beautifully crafted wooden door.
When she entered, she was engulfed by warmth as wood crackled from the fireplace, not wanting the make a mess, she discarded her boots by the door, where a pair of sneakers were orderly placed, she figured Marvin was home, and wondered if Nana was still to return from her errands. Her feet found comfort from the warm wooden floors as she padded her way toward the stairs. Only, she came to a halt when a voice spoke from the direction of the kitchen.
"Nana did you buy more Nutella, it seems we've run out, and somehow my secret stash has vanished…too" Marvin drawled out the last bits as he realised that it wasn't his Nana that had come through the door.
"Amy? why are you all wet?" he questioned, his brows furrowed in both concern and confusion as he looked at Amoura's drenched form.
"I had gone hunting, and well, got caught up in the rain" she said nonchalantly with a shrug, having gotten rid of the sheepish guilty look that had laced her face when Marvin had mentioned the disappearance of his secret Nutella stash. Hoping to avoid being further questioned, she hurried up the stairs before he could utter one more word.
Marvin remained standing with an empty jar of Nutella and a kitchen knife that had what seemed to be the last bits of it, sticking it into his mouth, he marvelled at the mystery that she was, as he leaned against the wall before retreating back to the kitchen.
Her room was filled with white and baby blues, a typical guest room that had nothing personal within it like family pictures or posters on the wall. The walls were a clean white, save for the door frames that were painted a baby blue, the colour was extended to the curtains that hung open on the double windows on the opposite side to the door she entered through.
There was a bed with a baby blue comforter with white pillows, a white classic vanity closet that was barely put to use by Amoura for she wasn't the kind for neither make up or jewellery, not that she had been exposed to either for her whole life. It made sense that none were scattered atop the vanity top, save for perhaps a hairbrush, hair ties and now the daggers she had carelessly placed as she entered the bathroom.
She relished in the warm waterfall that doused her, cleansing her of the grime that the rainfall alone couldn't wash off, leaning against the wall, she let out a tiresome sigh. She wondered just where she was headed, a part of her always knew that the tug was linked to something in her past, a past that seemed to have abandoned her mind for she now had no recollection, had she had a family then? had they loved her before realising the pain of such love when she was ripped away from them before they could enjoy the best of their child's life? a lot of questions floated within her mind, it felt like a migraine was slowly seeping through the crevices of her brain.
Switching her mind off, she payed attention to the warmth that fogged the glass, she could feel every single drop of water as it slithered down her body, retracting her head that had been leaning against the wall, she took a peak at her shoulder, glad that the bullet had gone through or else she would have had to dig it out only to mare her skin further, because by the looks of it then, her golden skin was merely pink in irritation, gone was the evidence of there having ever been a bullet caused wound.
She made to exit the shower when she heard the front door open, letting her know that Nana had finally returned. Wiping the fog off of the mirror, the woman that stared back at her seemed hollow, her eyes empty silver crystals, gone was the storm, she had a defined jawline and hollowed cheeks that when she smiled they created lines that acted out poor dimple illusions. She couldn't help the smile that laced on her lips at the thought of how Maximus seemed to be obsessed about her hairs, his mind seemed boggled at how they were so naturally silver with white highlights like the moon herself.
A blanket of warmth wrapped around her heart at the thought of the man in her dreams, when she had first dreamt of him, he had felt so familiar, she just couldn't remember just where she had seen him before, she figured it must have been before her capture, for there was no way he was part of those that were responsible for her torment and imprisonment. She shook her head at the memory of when she had asked him if they had met before, and now that she thought about it, she wondered just why he had lied about it when he denied that they had met before.
She was ignorant to the emotions that had brewed within Maximus when she threw that question at him, he had been shocked that she barely seemed to recognise him, he was hurt at first, that he had been so forgettable to his own mate, however with more time and unpredictable visits to Scileria, he had come to realise she remembered none of the time before she had been taken from him. He had wondered just how she had no memory of anyone, wondered what could have possibly happened to rob her off of those tales.
A part of her, although with full understanding that he was merely in her dreams, she couldn't help but hope he was real somewhere out there, for the possibility of him being a mere figment of her subconscious imagination was hard to comprehend, a large pill hard to swallow. She was glad for such dreams in Scileria, for when she wasn't thrust in the realm of dreams, she found herself drowned within dark tales, events she didn't want to relive at all, nightmares that gripped at her so hard, she always woke up with a gasp of air as if she had been choked.
With her hair in a neat ponytail, save for a few rebel strands that fell near her ear, she threw on a black short sleeved turtle neck along with black tights then shoved her feet into what she deemed the greatest invention in the shoe department, soft bunny slippers that had been bought by Nana when she had realised that Amoura always wore nothing but those combat boots of her, everywhere she went. Amoura had no doubt that Anna would have loved them, and the stuffed teddy bears, things she seemed to have had no knowledge that they existed before.
She had not been exposed to much within the four white walls of the hunter facility. Her first year had been heart and fearful for a five-year-old Amoura, she had been gripped by fear so much so she barely spoke a word for months, which hadn't boded well for the hunter leader when he wanted his questions answered. However, he had made sure that if she weren't going to speak willingly, then he would have to force it out of her, and that was when the soon to be six-year-old child received her first ten lashes with leather that seemed without mercy on her skin, which was left tethered and marred.
Although the hunter leader had succeeded in having her make a sound, they were mere screams and had only strengthened little Amoura's resolve to not say a word. She couldn't remember just when she had begun to loose bits of her memories, she thought perhaps it was after the first time she had been injected with a DNA sample she couldn't remember what it consisted of, only the pain, she remembered the pain like she could still feel the painful pull of her veins as if they were being forcible stretched to their max.
Or perhaps it was when the process was repeated the next day, and the day after that for however long, for she had lost count a month later, all she now knew was that she was Amoura, a genetically modified werewolf killing machine that had strength that could rival that of an Alpha, a part of her feared that her strength had grown even beyond that, for what she had felt when she was forced to kill a rogue alpha, it hadn't required strength that was anywhere near her max.
She also knew that she was more than that, more than a regular human being beyond being genetically modified, perhaps it was because with every werewolf she killed, she gained a mental companion that was either pissed or curious as to how they were dead yet could communicate in her mind, or perhaps it was in the way the moon called to her, how it wrapped her in the warmth of its silvery tendrils, she wondered how the moon could be so warm when it looks like it could be ice cold. She figured perhaps wherever this insistent painful tug demanded that she go, would provide her with answers she clearly didn't have and needed. It was a tug of painful urgency she couldn't understand, but she just knew it was important hence she was willing to follow it regardless.
"Hey Nana" she greeted the old woman, even though her hair bordered on white, she looked no older than forty-five.
"Hey! that's mine you know" came an exclamation from Marvin in protest to her snatching the newly opened chocolate delight in his hand and shoving a generous amount in her mouth as she mounted the barstool near the island counter.
"Now I know where my stash disappeared to" he said, eyes filled with suspicion and a semblance of revelation as she scoffed with a shake of his head as if in disapproval. However, Amoura didn't miss the smile that had his lips twitching as it tried to show itself.
"Not my fault I had never been allowed such privileges before, it's official, I've truly been deprived of the very essence of life" she said in what sounded like an over exaggeration on both Marvin and Nana's ears, even though she was partly serious despite her jesting tone.
"Ncaaw, you poor thing" Nana cooed as she unpacked the grocery bags into the pantry, "You can eat all the sugary delights you want here, even Marvin's Nutella stash" she winked her way at the last pats, causing her to chuckle from the warmth that tickled her bones
"This is so not fair" Marvin muttered as he pouted down at his phone, she figured he was most probably texting his girlfriend, whom she was yet to meet.
"Oh hush" Nana chastised. Amoura still couldn't understand how either of them were so accommodating to her, a mere stranger that had stumbled upon their home in the middle of the night, looking like she had escaped world war two and then some. She mentally scoffed, I might as well have. Of course Nana had been sure to question her the next morning after a warm bath and bed, and morning meal.
Although Amoura had felt familiar with the woman, they had never met before, and she hadn't wanted to straight out tell the truth for she was sure she would have sounded delusional. For she could tell that both of them were humans, and most probably had no idea about the existence of other supernatural species.
She had simply said she had escaped her ex-boyfriend who had seen it fit to kidnap her and have her locked in a dingy cabin deep in the woods and miles from theirs, and was sure he was still looking for her, hence she couldn't stay long. Of course the old woman had assured Amoura that she could stay for as long as she wants, and 'should that snivelling bastard of a demon dare step foot on her property, she would have no qualms with blowing his bloody lunatic of a head right off his pathetic body', right in those words.
Amoura had laughed at that, yet she could tell that the woman had meant it, she figured the reason for her youthful looks still were a result of all her years in the military, not to forget that she had been a special ops agent, Nana had told her of her own history, that she may be old but she still packed a punch as a young man could. Amoura didn't dare doubt it for she looked truly fit to do so. What Amoura seemed to have missed was the reason behind the familiar feeling she felt. That Nana though she was human in all her glory, not only knew of the existence that werewolves existed, but that she had been a mate of one before he had met his untimely death, another descendant that fell by the order of the werewolf King.
"I bought pizza for dinner so why don't you two set the table mhmm?" came Nana's voice, pulling Amoura from her thoughts and Marvin from the screen of his phone.
"I swear, one day you'll wake up blind because of how long you stare at that thing" Amoura said in slight warning as she opened the cabinet to get the plates out, walking toward the dinner table a few feet from the kitchen.
"With these good genes" he retorted motioning to himself "I doubt it" he finished off with a cocky smirk. That only had Amoura rolling her eyes with a dry chuckle muttering
"Arrogant butt" and she knew she heard him say how at least he had a butt and she didn't, which had Nana smacking the back of his head, almost causing him to drop the two glasses in his hands when he yelped in both surprise and slight pain.
"Nana" he whined. Amoura woke from the joy she felt with what she had become part of when a bucket of cold water came in the form of reality when her mind reminded her of her earlier events. She had succeeded in forgetting about them till now, and as she sat on the table nibbling at her slice of pizza while listening to the funny tale Marvin was regaling them with, she realised with sadness that she would have to snatch their smiles from them and suck out the carefreeness in their laughter with her next words.
"I'm leaving" two words, yet the impact was as grand as a missiles', she saw it on both their faces when they both looked at her in both shock and question. Marvin was first to speak when he saw the look she had on, that she would not be convinced otherwise, and he knew that that only meant one thing.
"He found you didn't he?" he questioned. Nana looked at her in anticipation of her answer, partially hoping that that wasn't the case, that perhaps the young girl merely felt like she had overstayed her welcome and so she had to, for at least then there was hope that she could be convinced otherwise. However, such hopes were crushed when she nodded
"He did, and I killed him" she said, and weirdly enough neither of them seemed shocked ta the revelation, she didn't contemplate on it though as Marvin spoke up again
"Well then why leave, I think we have been obvious enough that we really don't mind you staying here, hack I would be happy if you did, I mean" he said as he licked his lips as if they had dried up "I'm sure even Nana would be glad for the company since she lives here alone, which I still don't like grandma" he added as he faced Nana's way, who merely rolled her eyes at his disapproval of her living in the woods alone.
"Because he's part of a really bad gang, and I have no doubt they'll come after me" she offered the excuse hoping it didn't sound feeble to them as it did to her ears. "I just don't want to put either of you in danger, heck I already think I did just that because I killed him not so far from here"
"Quite frankly, that little fact doesn't matter, they would find out cabin either way since I'm pretty sure it's the only other cabin here for miles" Marvin disputed. She didn't know how to tell them it's more than running away from the hunters, after all it was not like she could say that she had a family to go to, she hadn't thought that far when she had told them that she had none, she had just wanted to keep any more questions at bay at the time. Two weeks, she wondered how one can get so attached in just two weeks, for part of her already considered the two figures before her as family, Nana the sweet old grandma, and Marvin the annoying little brother.
"It's alright dear, we understand" Nana said, her tone a lulling sweetness her heart clenched at possibly never seeing her again, either of them.
"But Nana we can help, Cavin can help" Marvin argued, his tone held a sense of desperateness he couldn't help, he found Amoura to be sweet even though her obsession with eating his stash annoyed him a bit, yet even that he found endearing, he figured that was what it meant to have a sister. Even he hadn't expected to get attached to a stranger so quickly, alas it had happened.
"No, I don't want any more people involved in this, just let me handle it myself, I Can take care of myself Marvin" she said
"By the looks of it, I would say not really" he couldn't help but shout. His very high tone seemed to try and coax a side of her she really didn't want to unleash on Marvin, therefore before she could listen to the sinister bloodthirsty voices in her head, she stood up and marched for her bedroom, locking her door behind her. She leaned her head against it with her eyes clenched shut, taking in slow breaths in order to control her breathing, she hated how the voices were becoming hard to ignore.
Although others were fresh, there were some that have been with her for so long that their essence seemed to be infusing with her very own, and she really found that she detested the notion of being subconsciously being controlled by psycho werewolves she had been forced to kill only to end up unintentionally consuming their essence. Groaning more in frustration and anger rather than the pain it caused to build up four hard enough walls to entrap the voices in. Few minutes later came a nock that knocked her out of her stupor. Blinking her eyes to try and adjust to the light, she opened up her door. Marvin stood before her with a sorrowful look as he asked
"can I come in?" to which she nodded.
"Woah" he said in surprise at the image of daggers on her vanity top along with her empty quiver and bow
"I guess you meant it when you said you can take care of yourself huh?' he stated as he picked up a dagger only to marvel at it, his tone sounded both serious and amused, as she felt the tip of the dagger sharp against his pointer finger. She only let out a light laugh as she walked to pick up her backpack she had bought a few days she had arrived at the cabin and Nana had insisted they go shopping for her essentials and clothes.
"Remind me to never get on your bad side" came Marvin's jest as he leaned slightly perched onto her cabinet, his hands now free of the dagger, he folded his arms as he looked at her move around the room.
"I think it would be better if you make sure to remember yourself, I may not have enough time to warn you before I chop your fingers off" she shrugged, a smile creeping onto her lips at his shocked reaction only for him to chuckle with a shake of his head.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye then, will you come back again, I mean, will we ever see you again?" his question halted Amoura's movements as she walked to stand before him "to be honest, I don't know, but I'll try my best to come see you guys again, well at least Nana, cause you" she pointed with her eyes squinted "Are annoying" she finished off with a smile
"yeah yea, ditto" he said. "I'll leave you to it then" he added walking out. She let out a sigh and continued packing the few things she might need as well as her weapons, she figured she would have to buy more arrows on the road, but then also figured that even if she didn't have any, she still had the gun Nana had armed her with for her own protection. The old woman had asked the young lady if whether she even knew how to use a gun, and for some reason wasn't shocked that she could either, she had simply said 'good', with a sweet pat on her cheek before going about her day.
As if she had almost forgotten, she let out a gasp of horror when she remembered the fluffy slippers she had on her feet, taking them off and shoving tem into the bag so as to not forget them, she wore her black hooded cloak that she had bought at first sight, giving the room one last look over, she walked toward the kitchen where she hoped Nana was. Nana was startled for but a second when she felt two arms wrap around her, before she calmed at the scent of citrus, knowing that it was Amoura, slightly surprised that she even showed a semblance of affection considering she was a tad bit iffy when it came to touching, she had realised the young girl always kept at a distance when human touch was possible.
"You better look after yourself young lady" she instructed as she grasped Amoura's face between her hands, restricting her movement as she attempted to nod in understanding.
"Yes Nana" she said, before grabbing her back pack and walking toward where her boots lay dirty with dried mud, however that didn't stop her from putting them on, making Nana tsk shaking her head in disapproval
"You could have at least bought a new pair you know" she chastised, "Oh speaking of" she trailed of in remembrance as she walked toward where her purse lay on the table that sat on its lonesome against the wall with a flower pot on it and a key holder, she walked Amoura's way with a ward of cash to which the young lady was quick to protest against shaking her head no
"I can't take that Nana; you've already given me so much" she said
"Pish posh, how do you expect to get wherever you're going without ay money for food of transportation, now do be a good girl and take it" her tone was stern with no room for arguments, which forced Amoura to relent with a sigh.
"Fine, only because you have a point" and you know better when it comes to how this world works. She finished in her mind. Before she could turn for the door, keys were thrown her way, to which she was quick to see and catch eliciting a whistle from Marvin
"Good reflexes" he stated still perched on the barstool near the island counter
"Are these what I think they are?' she questioned in disbelief
"Keys to Jazz? You bet" he said as if it were no big deal, however, Amoura knew that the bike parked in the garage was his pride and joy, although she knew little about automobiles and motorbikes, she knew that the stealthy sleek black masculine machinery was the best of its kind, and because it was customised, it was one of a kind. She couldn't accept it.
"Before you argue about it, do you really want to be driven everywhere by a stranger that might have known your ex and possibly working for him?" with his point, she knew that to him that seemed most probable, even though she knew that the hunters wouldn't be on her tail so soon, she nodded anyway.
"Thanks Marvin" she said,
"No problem, besides, this way you'll have an excuse to come back, just look after her" she could only smile, with one last look at the two she had come to consider family, she walked into the dead of night. She instantly felt enveloped by warmth and reassurance of the moon, as the stars took a swim within the navy oceans of the sky. Walking toward the garage that was yet to be locked, she marvelled at the piece of machinery as her fingers brushed against the steel.
She had only ever been on it one, when Marvin had seen her curiosity about it, of course then he had been the one to drive, but she knew she could do just as well to even though she had been without lessons on how to ride it, she had seen enough to know how it operates. Her mind had grown to be sharp as calculative, she found it impossible to forget things and easy to analyse things at a speed. That is why she found it easy to tear away from the cabin's garage, through the gravel pathway that led away from the cabin and onto the black asphalt that seemed endless. She didn't even bother to switch the motorbike's lights on, for she could see through the dark as if it was clear as day.