I would like to thank: bookfreak9123, SweetDreamzz3116, Midsumermoon, elizi02, plaidtastic and especially PhantomMalevolence for your sweet words and taking the time to review! You really dont know how much your words (No matter how little) spur me on to continue with this story.
Sorry this took so long to upload guys! I've been having laptop problems, then it wouldnt let me upload as it kept crashing and college was hectic. Just know I wont give up on this story, no matter how long it takes! Enjoy and please R&R!
Disclaimer: I'll start a list of what I do own, and add to it every chapter. Ok, I own a version of Sony Vegas - 09 to be exact, but I don't own the Darkest Powers Trilogy in any way, they all belong to Kelley Armstrong... Now if only I had a time machine...
Three
"So this isn't going to change? I'm always going to feel this way, be this way then?" I asked, while staring at my own two feet. I could hear Dad clearing his voice for some tactical way to respond, some way to make it all better, but I'm not five anymore. I can handle the truth and facts, in fact I glory in them.
"So what you're saying is theres no way around it, I'm always going to be this way."
"Look son, I know it sounds daunting now-"
"Daunting? Daunting? I'm sixteen Dad! On top of everything else thats been going on I could have done without this as well! I'm only fucking sixteen..." The last bit I mumbled under my breath so Dad couldn't hear, he has a strict policy about swearing, specifically in his presence, as long as he didn't hear it we were all happy, however in the circumstances I doubt he would have minded. I wasn't going to test that theory though.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner Dad!"
"I didn't think it was an issue yet, when you'd matured a bit, I would have told you Derek, I honestly didn't believe we'd have to deal with this yet. You were a young boy then, but you're growing and maturing into quite the young man now, and it was apparent to me you had to be told everything as soon as I saw-"
"Dad listen, I know you think you're doing the right thing and all but you're wrong, you've got to be, theres just no way!"
"Derek, you know what I'm going to say to you, and you know you need to give it some serious consideration." Groaning as if in pain, or just in dread, Derek opened his mouth to protest but Kit continued unabashed, "You know what I'm saying is right Derek! You need to tell them both, I only agreed to keep Simon out of the loop because this is your own personal business and he didn't need to know at the time, but he's bound to know something is going on soon. And you know I hate secrets Derek. And well, as for Chloe I can't make you say or do anything you don't want to, but I think you should tell her too."
"Do you have any idea what her Aunt thinks of me Dad?"
"Lauren? I don't know where this is going-"
"I'll tell you then shall I? When I was in Lyle House she was pushing for me to be transferred as soon as she saw me, when Chloe and Rae were taken to the Edison Group by her, she pushed for them to put me down like some sort of rabid animal - No wait, like a rabid dog. Somehow I doubt this same woman remain here or better yet let Chloe remain here if she knew how things really stood."
"Look Derek I never said this was going to be easy-"
"No Dad, you didn't, but just give me some more time. Let me deal with it in my own way. I'm going out, do you want me to go get Simon and remind him to check his bloods?" Seeing Dad nod at this and look straight ahead of himself thoughtfully, I quickly stood and headed for the door of our motel in three short strides, well, short for me anyway.
On my way to find Simon I decided to see Chloe afterwards. We hadn't spent any time with one another since the night we'd escaped the Edison Group, partly due to her Aunt Lauren, and partially because I had been locked into my own world. But before I could think anymore about that, an unmistakable scent crossed my path. Looking around to check nobody was within sight, I crouched down and inhaled deeply just to be sure my senses weren't tricking me. I was right, there was no way I could mistake that scent, that mix of strawberries and ginger, and another undiscribable smell. It was of Chloe. She had been here, fairly recently. I didn't like the feel of this, and neither did my inner wolf, who growled slightly in acknowledgement, as if to say, "You need to find her, follow her scent, check she isn't in trouble, just in case." And that was exactly what I set about doing.
Following the trail through the grounds of the motel, a prickle of unease crept into my stomach, but I shook it off. Sure, Chloe had been told not to leave her motel room and she'd complied so far, but she was bound to feel a little antsy. The cabin fever was bound to have hit her eventually, cooped up in a room with Tori for long amounts of time. This caused a small chuckle to reverbrate in my chest, Ah yes, the perfect punishment, I'm sure. Lock anyone up with Tori for a couple days and their bound to be climbing the walls to escape. But still, as I let my nose continue me on my search, another scent came to mind which I would recognise in a heartbeat. Simon's. It was older than Chloe's scent, he'd passed here a while ago. Maybe they were hanging out together? After all, I'd been spending so much time with Dad as we discussed my... Issues, he was bound to feel a bit out of sorts. I vowed to spend some quality time with Simon then and there. Maybe Dad was right, maybe I should tell Simon what's been going on. He'd always been a good listener and we were brothers. Brothers shouldn't keep secrets. That was when I turned the corner, I'd heard their voices a little earlier but I hadn't been concentrating on what they'd been saying until now. Until I turned the corner and saw it. Saw them.
I heard Simon first, just slightly until I focused in and listened...
"It's ok Chloe, it's ok. I'm here for you, no matter what..."
I stopped listening after that, because I could see them, holding on to one another, close and hugging. Too close, the wolf inside me was growling, telling me to do something. Telling me that I was the better male, stronger, more masculine, smarter, more attractive, able to provide better for her in every department than any other, and that Simon was invading my territory, trying to take over what was mine. Then the more logical side of my mind stopped the wolf inside me, and I felt guilty. Simon was my brother. He was just comforting Chloe over something. Sure, it should have been me doing that, I should have been there, not Simon, but I was too busy with Dad, and everyone knows Simon always was better at all that stuff than I ever could be...
Turning my back on the display before me, I knew I had to sit somewhere and think things out. I was mad, and with all the stuff going on with Dad, the last thing I needed was to get into it with Chloe over a stupid feeling of jealousy I'd never be able to explain to her properly. Not right now anyway. Walking away, with a spark of anger still within me, I faintly heard Chloe's voice above my own thought, saying one thing and one thing only. My name. Derek. Then just as the wolf inside me began to get smaller, I felt its ears perk up at Simon. He had noticed me too then.
"Derek! Derek its not what it looks like I swear it! Come back! Derek!" Simon yelled consistently, and if I paid special attention I could smell the worry on his skin, feel Chloe's rickety breathing a small distance behind him. He'd started running towards me before thinking better of it and stopping. Good. I didn't want Simon to follow. I'd talk to him later, right now, I wanted to gather my thoughts, and be on my own.
I found a place to sit that was secluded on the edge of the small forest. Dad had chosen his motels well, close enough to civilisation that we wouldn't be trapped if anyone caught up with us, far enough away from big towns that us - Or namely, Chloe, wouldn't be recognised and with a forest close enough by in case I needed to change.
While I was there I thought back to that night Chloe and Simon went to the ice cream parlour on their date. My loyalties were torn that night. I was happy for Simon to be going out, getting on with his life after everything I'd done that had brought us to that point, on the run, seperated from Dad and our lives. But on the other hand every instinct in my body was screaming that they shouldn't go out with one another, and although I was worried about their safety that wasn't the reason why I was so against them going. I liked Chloe, and it was a new feeling for me. But she'd liked Simon, every girl likes Simon and it was obvious to anyone to see why they would. He is everything that I'm not, calm, considerate, good looking, funny. I was just his screwed up brother who was rude to everyone and had serious problems with my "hormones", the logical part of my mind said it was only right Chloe and Simon were together, he was safe. And she needed that. I didn't like it though. So I waited.
When she came back through the forset without Simon and told me that she'd screwed up, I'd pushed her. Demanded she tell me what had gone wrong. When she told me Simon thought she liked me, my heart literally felt elated before it became crushed. I couldn't do that to Simon. To her. I know I'm not good enough for her, I'm dangerous. She denyed it immediately of course. I told her then, "You'd better not, Chloe, because Simon likes you." It took my change and the events after that before things became right again, but it wasn't until Simon gave his blessing that I allowed myself to fully recognize the fact I liked Chloe, and she liked me. It doesnt change things though, I'm still not good enough for her, and I'm not the only one that thinks that either.
When we walked back the night that we escaped from the Edison Group, I knew Lauren was there, waiting for our return. I could smell the disapproval coming off from her in waves. I'd been prepared for this though, and like most guys I'd wanted was to make a good impression on Chloe's relatives, but I knew there was only one thing to do to see what she really felt about me and Chloe being together. Lauren isnt dumb, she's cunning and if she wants to break us up she'll be sneaky about it, wear Chloe down, cause fights between us and then just wait for the inevitable. I wont let that happen. So placing my arm tighter around Chloe's waist, I trained my eyes to Lauren and waited until we got close enough, and sure enough I saw it. The look of disgust was plain on Lauren's face. Even an idiot could have read it. And I was no idiot. Neither was Chloe. It was foolish of me to believe Lauren would accept my relationship with Chloe. Hopeful, but foolish all the same.
I was thinking about that, of whether me and Chloe could wrestle a future with our futures so uncertain when she appeared in the flesh. They said speak of the devil, and he'll appear, well it would seem thinking about them worked as well...
"Derek." Her lip trembled slightly, and she looked quite frazzled. But I was still pissed off, it may have something to do with the fact I'm ready to change again, but Chloe didn't need to know that.
"Chloe. I came here to be alone so-"
"It wasn't what it looked like! Derek please, Simon just wanted someone to talk to about all thats been going on. And then you appeared and left before either of us got a chance to explain. We'd never hurt you like that, I'd never cheat on you." She was nearly in tears by the end of this, but defiantly held them in while looking anywhere but at me.
"I know" Her head snapped to my face once I said this, almost as if to check the words really came from me, "But does talking involve hugging someone now too?" The wolf snorted its approval at that. I knew how dry and uncaring my tone was, if the wolf approved at how I was treating Chloe, why did I feel like such a jerk about it? Like I should know better, that there was something more to it?
"I saw something Derek." My eyes snapped to her face then, the glassy look in her eyes. Her voice sounded dead. Emotionless.
Cursing myself with some very creative expletitives several times over, I jumped swiftly, silently, to my feet with all the grace of a wolf and gently grasped Chloe's chin, making her eyes meet with mine before whispering two words, that before now would have been hard to leave my lips for anyone. But this was Chloe, with her, it was different.
"I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter anymore Derek, it was another replay. I have to get used to them eventually."
While I was examining her, my other senses finally allowed themselves to send the correct messages to my brain. Scents especially. I could smell apprehension and... Guilt? There was something Chloe wasn't telling me. "Why were you and Simon there, away from the motels, out in the open just to "talk" anyway Chloe?" I studied her face now without blinking, to gauge her reaction.
"I-it's not m-m-my place to talk a-about a confidence De-Derek." Chloe had started stuttering again - Now I knew something was wrong. I released my feather light grip on her chin, and faced her cooly.
"Oh really? Whats so important that Simon couldn't talk to me about it? That you two had to go out of your way to sneak about-"
"We weren't sneak-"
"That you two were sneaking about, making sure nobody else would overhear or see you together then?"
"Its not for me to say, you need to ask Simon!"
"Oh yeah? Whats so important you've got to keep secrets from me Chloe? That you're sneaking out behind my back?"
"I'm not getting into this with you Derek! Ask Simon, that's all I'll say, and if you dont trust me, thats your own problem." She turned around at that and walked away, leaving me alone like I'd first asked her to do.
As I watched her make her way back to her motel - I could see it from here so I knew she was safe, a strong feeling of guilt washed over me, but suspicion was also ripe too. I knew what I needed to do. I had to talk to Simon, see what he had to say. As when it came down to it, if it wasn't what it looked like, what was it then?
Ok so how did you find that? Was Derek extremely Out Of Character of did you find it good? Either way R&R to let me know!