WARNING: This Chapter is Extremely Graphic and only suitable for those of you with strong stomachs.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I no own, so you no sue.
A young woman with smoky eyes poked her head into the pack leader's private chambers. "Josiah?"
Josiah looked up from his many papers littering the desk and floor, charting out the different chase routes and red circles about likely locations for the bloodsucker's lair. Several towns in the mountainous area had been circled to show that they had seen a visitor who looked like the bloodsucker at night, visiting their pubs and town dances, always disappearing before anyone took full notice of her. "Yes, Mariel? What is it?"
She pushed the door open and entered, baring a full tray of food. "You haven't eaten yet today..."
He sighed and shook his head with a very small smile. "Thank you, Mariel. You are very kind."
She cleared off a small side table and set up the tray, rearranging the utensils and napkin. "You are brave, doing what you are doing." She said softly, biting her lip lightly. "But the pack was wondering if we might go into the woods this next phase-"
Josiah interrupted her, his fist banging loudly on the table. "No!" he shouted at the papers, his eyes never leaving the red trails and 'x's that marked where he had lost a pack member, where he had to bury the young corpses, thanks to that bloodsucker. He took a deep breath. "We must stay here, where our cubs and mothers are protected." he explained in a much calmer voice, brushing his tendrils of hair from his eyes. "I will not...cannot...let that bloodsucker have another chance at our pack, Mariel." He looked up at her glistening smoky eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry, Mariel. The pack will have to endure a few more months in our compound for now."
Mariel nodded, dusting her hands off on her skirts and sighing. "Yes, Josiah." She smiled at him and then turned, making her exit. "Make sure you eat, Josiah." She called over her shoulder before the door closed behind her.
Josiah smiled briefly before bending back down over his maps and plans. He had to find out where the bloodsucker's lair was. He had it narrowed down to four locations; all different caves that were deep within the mountains that he and his father before and his father before him had known about and marked on the local maps. It was likely that she had made one of them her lair. His lip curled. They would need a lot of planning and a lot of supplies.
Where could he get some Holy Water...? He let his fingers play over the layouts of the local towns, searching for churches...
Enid Fey lay in her lair, nails dug deeply into the soil. She snarled as her stomach gave another roiling lurch as it attempted to eat itself. She hadn't been able to snatch cubs or even mothers these past two months and could feel the effects. Yes, she was used to a normal level of starving, as she never ate unless it was at the full moon...but after two months with no kills...she was almost desperate enough to eat a human. She was getting the shakes really badly. Her throat uttered a guttural growl as her body bucked. A little blood. That's all she needed.
Then she could storm the compound and take what she wanted. They must be getting nearly as antsy as she was starving. They wouldn't be able to stand up to her when she was at full strength. Hells, she had even gotten a wound this last full moon phase when she attempted to enter the compound where they were keeping the pack. It was still throbbing across her shoulders. ...she didn't even think she would be able to make it to the nearest town under her condition. She had no strength or will to overcome the pains in her stomach and body.
She attempted to relax. Letting her shoulders sink into the soil of her native home. Letting the smells of the minerals flood her nose and lungs. She could almost taste the soil, eyes sliding out of focus. Her mind flew away from her body, spiraling up through the trees and forests. It was night. The cold light of the stars looked down on the mountain sides and she could see for miles. Smoke. Nearby. She smelt it on the breeze. She chased it down to a campsite. Two tents. A fire. A car. Miles from the town. But very very close to her...!
Enid's eyes flew open. She yanked her nails out of the soil and let out a shuddering moan of desire as her mind settled back in, the scents of smoke and fresh young blood flooding her senses. Her eyes glowed red.
Josiah jerked awake, a piece of paper sticking to his face. He tried to catch his breath, panting at the panic and adrenaline running through his system. He couldn't remember his dream. But he knew it had been awful. Red. He remembered red.
He shook his head, his breath starting to even out. The paper flew off of his face. His eyes landed on the tray Mariel had left. He swallowed guiltily as he hadn't eaten a single thing she had brought. He got up from his office chair and went over to the tray, grabbing the steak and tearing into it with his overlarge canines. He swallowed the cold meat, taking a painful gulp of the hard cider that they had left over. It must've been their last bottle.
He walked out of his rooms, still gulping down the meat and brew. Mariel was asleep in one of the chairs that were scattered about the large living area, her younger sister asleep at her feet, clutching onto a blanket. He smiled in a fatherly manner, swallowing the last of the beef before she could see it. He gently shook her shoulder. She awoke with a start.
"I wasn't asleep!" she gasped, blinking rapidly and trying not to yawn. "What do you need, Josiah?"
"Nothing." he assured her. "It's getting close to dawn and I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to town. We're in need of supplies."
"Oh, yes." She nodded, rubbing her eyes and stifling another yawn. "I must change first."
"Take all the time you need." He nodded. "I'm going to check on the cubs." She smiled at him and hurried off to her family's room so that she could change, carrying her little sister with her.
He walked down the hallways, past the mess hall and kitchens towards the bedrooms. The cubs were all in a cabin-esque room, with bunk beds and showers. They were watched over constantly by older members of the clan. They were escorted to the play field outside and to dinners. They were all going a little stir-crazy, but it was only for a little while longer. He looked in through the windows on the double-doors, watching them as they slept peacefully. They didn't truly understand the dangers. They just wanted to play and frolic and be with their friends. Enid Fey had stolen that from them.
He nodded to Flint Lockwoode as he passed him near the kitchens on his way out. Flint, the beta second in command, nodded back. He would watch over things while Josiah was away to town. He made his way outside and to his truck, an old Ford with rust in the bed and a clunky engine. Mariel met him out there and they made their way into town, neither talking much. Mariel had a list of groceries that they needed at the compound. They stopped at the general store first, where they could get boxes of beef or other meats and grains like flour and rice. Then to the produce seller, where they got fruits and vegetables for the cubs who hadn't quite grown into the carnivorous diet yet.
It was near the camping supply store that he heard the news.
A campsite had been discovered ravaged and covered with blood, the campers having vanished. The tents were demolished and the loam was stirred up in obvious evidence of a struggle. They were putting together a huge search party for the three campers that had disappeared into the forest.
Josiah hurried Mariel through her purchases and raced back to the compound in his old Ford pickup.
He knew what had attacked the campsite...and the full moon was only a week away...
Enid lay in a stupor of engorgement, sprawled in her native soils, soaked to the skin in still warm blood. It had taken the rest of her self control to force the campers to her lair without devouring one of them. But the moment her feet had entered her lair, she had snapped and was now laying on top of the young man, still oozing very slightly onto the floor. The other two were huddled in the back of her lair, clutching at each other and sobbing. Enid ran a finger over her blood soaked chin and neck, shuddering in pleasure.
"Bill...!" the human girl sobbing choked out. "Oh God, Bill-!"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Enid snarled suddenly, twitching very visibly. "Oh no, I wouldn't do that."
"D-Do what?" the girl sobbed, glaring at her with a mix of hate and fear. Enid sat up, the corpse, of apparently Bill, squishing underneath her.
"Say that word." Enid explained with a tense edge to her voice. She got up and walked over to the girl faster than the girl had time to register and grabbed her chin, forcing the girl to look up at her. "In fact, don't say a word. Ever." She laughed at the terror in the girl's face. "You might live longer that way!"
The girl shrank away, shaking visibly. The boy gathered her in his arms and even though he was bleeding from several scratches and cuts, he tried to give off an air of invincibility. Enid smirked down at him. She would enjoy breaking that spirit.
"I wouldn't worry." She smirked at them, turning about to go to her pile of furs. "The full moon is only a week away."