Ruelle sipped on her tea as she looked at the woods. This was the only normal thing she had done since she had arrived in this strange land.
Normal? She chuckled as she thought of the word. What exactly did she regard as normal? The fact that she had white hair? The fact that her mother abandoned her and her sister? The fact that they were living in poverty? Or was it normal for her aunt to show up one mysterious day?
Yes, it wasn't normal but at least, she wasn't stuck in a town surrounded by forests, which inhabited psychotic demons that called themselves mutants.
"Werewolves, we're called werewolves."
Ruelle, turned sharply to see who had spoken. She released a breath as she saw the blonde guy who had saved her, what was his name again? She wondered.
Koa, his name was Koa.
"Did I say that out loud?" She muttered after some time, puzzled by the fact that he corrected her.
"No, you didn't. I merely guessed since you seemed to be shooting lasers from your eyes at the forest."
Ruelle, scoffed and turned away from him, choosing to look back at the woods. His answer wasn't convincing but she had no desire to question him further.
Ruelle took in a sharp breath when she noticed him approach her, and next to her.
"I don't bite."
"You're a dog, dogs bite."
"I find that quite offensive coming from a person I risked my life to save."
Ruelle, but her lips and squeezed her hand around the cup. "I apologized, I shouldn't speak to my savior in such curtly manner."
Koa looked at her and grinned. "Apology accepted."
Ruelle scoffed. Why was he offended that he was called a dog? He happened to look like a golden retriever.
In a good way.
"If you hate us so much, why haven't you tried to leave, Ruelle?"
She looked up at the bright sky, squinting her eyes so she could take a closer look. Why hadn't she? She could have easily dragged Eloise away, threatening her that she would kill herself but yet, here she was, sipping tea with a creature that was very much capable of reducing her to mincemeat any seconds from now.
Mincemeat. Ruelle released a laugh as she thought of that word, causing him to look at her strangely.
"I wonder why too. Maybe I am curious?" She whispered.
But she knew that was a lie.
She didn't want her and her sister to leave because she didn't know what awaited them once they left this place. At least here, she could see who her enemy was, although they were one too many. But if she chose to leave and go back to that eerie town, she had no idea of whom she was to point her sword at. If anything, they'd likely be dead in nothing less than a day.
"I'm curious about you Ruelle." Koa said softly as he looked at the pretty brunette that sat on the floor, sipping tea. "Aren't you curious about me?" He asked, desiring no reply but curious to see her reaction.
Her grey eyes flickered as she pondered on how best to answer him. "I don't mind knowing what I'm about to face."
"You know–" Koa stood up from where he sat and looked down at her. "You might even find out what our weakness is"
Her eyes, widened in curiosity but she remained silent until he walked inside.
She looked at the spot where he sat and realized that knowing more about him didn't seem so bad. If not for anything, he was quite good looking.
Ruelle, made up her mind that she was going to find out his weakness, no matter what. A friend today, could be an enemy tomorrow.
She stood up from the floor, dusted her skirt and walked towards where Eloise was. She was going to find answers, for their life depended on it.
***
"So, werewolves aren't the only supernatural creatures?"
"Not at all, they're many."
Eloise's eyes, widened in wonder, and she leaned closer to the woman that was speaking.
"El, give her space."
Eloise, rolled her eyes at Ruelle but leaned back. She didn't want to ruin the mood.
"And what are you?" Elosie asked. She wanted to know everything she possibly could about this strange world.
"Well, although I'm a werewolf, werewolves have ranks."
"What rank are you?"
"I'm a healer."
"Healer?" Ruelle questioned.
The dark haired woman, smiled and nodded. "Yes I am. I heal the injured, both physically and the mind."
"That must be hard, isn't it?"
Elosie, looked at her sister and frowned. Was that compassion she was seeing? Certainly not. If there was one thing she knew, her sister was indifferent.
The woman chuckled as she looked at them. "It really isn't. Once you practice continuously, it flows naturally."
"So what should we refer to you as?"
"Call me June."
Eloise, studied June. Although she wore heavy clothing, it was obvious that she was quite endowed. Her jet black hair, stopped short at her shoulders, and her eyes, seemed compassionate.
"As you already know, werewolves have ranks." June paused to let the words sink in before she continued. "There's the Alpha who is the head of the park, the Luna, which is his mate, the Beta which is his right hand, the Gamma which is the third in command, and the Delta which is forth in command."
June, stopped again to make sure they were following her before she continued. "We also have the healers, the warriors, the hunters, and the Omega's."
"Why are Omega's listed last?" Eloise questioned.
"Because they're viewed as the weakest among all wolves." June answered.
El, chuckled at what the said. "Even here, there is still a division, what a shame."
"You know, asides our abilities, we're not that different from humans."
June, looked at the two sisters and wondered what they both had in mind. While one was cold as ice, the other was as hot as flames. But they had one thing in common, they seemed dead to the world. June wondered what their story was and what made them this way.
"Well, moving on, each wolf has a mate but I'm guessing you already know that. There's however another type of wolf although one has not been seen in millions of years, it could even be a myth."
"Another type?" Ruelle questioned.
"Yes, it's called a lycan"
"Lycan?"
"Yes. They're said to be stronger, faster and very intelligent. They don't need to turn to wolves to use their powers."
El, frowned as she tried to process what June was saying. "Why aren't they present?"
"Well, history has it that many years ago, there was once a lycan, a very powerful one and most feared. Asides having wolf abilities, she had magic."
"I thought wolves don't have magic?" Ruelle questioned.
"But this one did. She was very powerful and feared but a great tragedy struck, and she was never seen again."
"It's a she?" Elosie said.
"Yes. But that's all there is to it. It might as well be legend for all I care."
"Are there other creatures? Creatures with silver eyes and silver hair? "
Elosie, turned to look at Ruelle and sucked in a breath. What was Rue aiming at, asking a very obvious question like that? Was she trying to single herself out?
June looked at her and frowned. "Why are you asking?"
"I'm merely curious."
"Curiosity could get you killed."
Ruelle, crossed her legs and looked at June in the eyes "Then I'd rather die having knowledge than be ignorant."
El, looked back and forth at her sister and the healer. There was tension in the air for some reason.
"Well, you know we're new to this, I really want to know everything." Ruelle chuckled trying to clear the air. "No need to be so tense."
Eloise, frowned as she saw the obvious shift of her mood. Rue, was obviously pretending.
"Well, can you continue?" El asked.
June, nodded as she relaxed. She had gotten on edge for nothing. They were humans so they obviously heard many tales.
"You could be referring to vampires."
"Vampires?! Are they real?"
"As real as I am. They are creatures of the night and very dangerous."
El, tapped her foot on the floor. "I've always read that in books. Heavens know I didn't believe it one bit."
June smiled before she continued. "They feed on blood like the tales do say but they can move around in day time and aren't afraid of silver or stakes."
"Then what is their weakness?" Ruelle asked.
"Nothing. That's what makes them deadly. They're unhinged. They don't care about life, they take and feed however they want." June, leaned forward and looked at them with all seriousness. "If you ever happen to meet them, I want you to flee."
El, looked at Ruelle and wondered why her sister looked pale as though she has just realized something. What was Ruelle hiding?
El, decided not to ask further but silently prayed that they would not be cut up in the crossfire.
***
Had she seen a vampire? Was she hallucinating? Was it merely a dream?
Ruelle, stopped walking and closed her eyes. She had so many questions but no answer.
Should she tell Koa about what she saw?
She shook her head as soon as the thought came. She had no idea what was going on but one thing was for sure, she was going to put her and El's life in danger if she revealed that she often saw a man with silver hair and eyes in her dream, every night.
The previous night, she had dreamt that she laid in the same bed with him and he was speaking to her. She seemed happy and laughed loudly at something he said. He leaned forward and kissed her softly on her neck, biting her in the process, roughly enough to leave a bruise.
She woke up immediately and when she touched the area that she was kissed, she felt moisture there. And when she looked into the mirror, a bruise had formed on that exact spot as though she had been bitten.
Was she truly beginning to run mad? Had she finally lost it?
When was the last time she was even sane?
Ruelle, wanted to believe everything was a dream but the bruises she saw every morning, told her otherwise.
Ruelle, sighed as she looked at the half moon. She got tired of walking, and sat on the floor. She looked around and realized that she had wandered deep into the woods.
"How the heck am I going to find my way back?" She spoke aloud.
She grabbed her hair and pulled it. It felt like her head was going to explode any second from now.
She craved answers, she wanted to know what was happening to her. Not to mention that for some reason each time she woke up, she was filled with longing for a man that she didn't know.
Ruelle's hands, went to where she was bitten and caressed it. Maybe this mark was an indication that truly left what she considered as normal.
"I guess I'm not in Kansas anymore." She whispered.
"Where is Kansas?"
Ruelle, didn't bother to turn. She already knew to whom that voice belonged to. Besides, she was already used to the way he usually snuck up on her.
"Koa, don't you ever get tired of sneaking around?"
"Sneaking around? I was merely following you to make sure you didn't get lost."
"How long have you been following me?"
"Since the moment you stepped inside the forest. I happened to be patrolling."
Ruelle, nodded and kept her eyes closed. She had no desire to open them and face her now reality.
Koa, sat beside her and remained silent, deciding not to question her.
"Kansas, is where Dorothy came from. It's exactly what she said when she got to Emerald City, a mystical place, far from home."
"So to you, this is an emerald City?"
"Yes, except that I never really had a place to refer as Kansas."
Koa nodded as though he understood what she said.
"Why does the alpha bother himself with me." Ruelle said as she turned to look at him.
Koa, looked into her gray eyes and felt bewitched. "Beautiful." He whispered.
"What?"
"I find you absolutely beautiful. For someone with brown hair, I find it strange that you have gray eyes"
"Is that why you always follow me?"
"You've noticed?"
"Yes I have. I'm not as dumb as you'd expect me to be. Although, I don't think my looks was what prompted you to follow me around."
"Then why do you think I was following you?"
"Probably because you are suspicious of me. But on second thoughts, you're the one that I should find suspicious."
Koa, tilted his head and smiled slightly. "Why do you find me suspicious?"
"There is no logical explanation as to why the alpha of a park would save I and my sister, take care of us and then let us stay here. From what I've seen, humans are not allowed to live here. "
"You're very correct, humans are not allowed to coexist with us."
"Then why?" Ruelle looked at him, trying to tear down every secret he held. "Why do you let us stay here? I doubt it is to understand if humans and werewolves can coexist."
"You are very accurate."
"Then why? I have a million questions in my head and if I don't have an answer right now, I'll completely lose it." Ruelle said with desperation.
"We don't let humans stay with us and we won't even allow that merely for an experiment."
Ruelle, glared at him and leaned backwards. "What are you trying to say?"
"You are truly not daft"
"Speak"
"Are you sure?"
Ruelle paused. Did she really want to know why? But she knew she had to. "Tell me, does Eloise already know why?"
"Yes." he said in confirmation.
Ruelle, sucked in a breathe as she now understood why her sister was in so much support.
Why didn't El tell her?
Ruelle, pushed back that question. That was not what was so important right now. Right now, she needed to know what was going on.
"Why are you letting humans in your pack?"
"Who said you're human?"
"What?" All color drained from Ruelles face as she tried to process what he just said.
"What do you mean I'm not human?"
"It is exactly what I mean."
Ruelle, could no longer push back the burning fury. So, she grabbed a dagger that she had hidden at the back of her trousers and held it to his throat.
"Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying to you Ruelle. How long are you going to feign ignorance or act like you're normal? How long are you going to further feed your delusion?"
"Stop speaking!" She screamed out loud. "I'm not a monster like you."
"Then, how is it that the bruises you had are completely healed? How is it that you have pure white hair and your eyes are silver?"
"How did you know about my hair and eyes?" Ruelle, had kept her eye color a secret and used eye drops since she was a child. Her eyes were no longer as bright as they used to be so how did he know?
"The same way I know that your life is in danger"
"What?" Ruelle's grip on the knife loosened and she stumbled backwards.
"Did you really think you were sent to that town to live happily?"
"I don't... understand–"
"You were sent to die. You were sent to the witches to be slaughtered."
Ruelle, pushed back the vomit that was building up.
Not now, she wasn't going to show her weakness now.
"Liar!"
"Fine, keep believing that you're human, I don't blame you, you've lived your life that way but the sooner you accept this, the sooner all your questions will be answered."
"You bastard, I swear I'll kill you if I have to!" She raised her hand to stab him but, she was hit behind her neck and she fell to the floor.
She coughed, and struggled to keep her eyes open. Something was wrong. She fought to stay conscious but something kept pushing her to sleep.
The last thing she heard was Koa, telling her how sorry he was, before she succumbed to the darkness.
***