Black Swan Princess
Disclaimer: I do not own the Night World
Claimer: I own the plot of this story and the characters you do not recognise
Vikki and Ash hated each other at school but Vikki is Rowan's BFF! As a ballet production begins and strange turn of event occurs Ash finds himself falling in love AshxOC
Chapter 4
The alarm clock scared both the girls awake the next morning.
"You better hope Ash didn't feel that." Rowan chuckled. "He'd just take the piss out of you for it."
Launching the clock across the room Vikki turned to her best friend and shrugged. "I'll just zap him if he does."
"Vikki, go get ready for your dance audition." Rowan tugged the duvet off the mahogany haired teen and tried to get back to sleep. Vikki groaned before heading towards the bathroom.
After her shower, Vikki tied her damp waves into a messy ponytail before starting on her makeup. On went the moisturiser and mascara before she got dressed in light blue skinny jeans and a white long-sleeved, v-neck jumper. Grabbing her keys and phone from the bedside table, Rowan mumbled a 'Good Luck' before Vikki jogged downstairs and towards the front door. She pulled on her grey ugg boots before noticing - once again - the door was open.
"Rowan?" Vikki called.
The vampire was downstairs in a flash. "I did wake up in the night...but I didn't come downstairs." Rowan said.
"Okay, umm...be careful today, yeah?"
They hugged before Vikki set out for the bus stop, pulling on her red 'Abercrombie & Fitch' hoodie on the way down the hill.
Ash wasn't at the bus stop today. Glad of the peace, she stepped on...but the peace wasn't glad of her.
"Hey...look who we have here." Vikki stopped, it was the guys who used to bully her with Ash at school. She resumed her journey and sat in her normal seat, situated in the middle of the bus.
"Victoria, you've turned into a pretty little thing." Two guys came over and sat on the seats behind her and then there was the one who sat on the seat infront.
"Leave me alone now guys." She glared at the guy infront of her and crossed her arms.
"But we've kinda missed your company." The one infront - obviously the leader of the three - stated. He was sat backwards on the seat so he could face Vikki. "Well, I have especially." He winked.
"I thought you said you were going to leave me alone afterwards." Vikki growled.
"Yeah well, babe..." He smirked. "Come on...don't tell me you don't miss me?"
"Actually I don't. And I have enough from the missing member as it is, thanks."
"Ash still lives round here?" One from the back exclaimed. "I thought he moved to Las Vegas."
"Actually no, he's right here." Vikki hadn't noticed the bus had rolled to a stop until Ash spoke. She'd never been so relieved they shared the same bus in all her life.
"Have fun." She mumbled to the blonde cat as she got to her feet and left the bus. Shamefully, Ash had followed her...and so did the other three.
"We're not finished yet, Victoria."
"Believe me, Jackson, I think we are." She began walking along the pavement towards the next bus stop when someone grabbed her wrist. It wasn't Ash. "Don't touch me." She growled.
"What're you going to do, Princess?" She punched him and he stumbled backwards.
"Trust me. Next time. I'll hit harder."
"And believe me when I say, I hit harder than she does." Ash stated.
"You're on her side now?" Jackson growled.
"Look, it's been two years, I haven't seen you, and I see her everyday." His eyes were black and dangerous. He could sense Vikki's growing impatience and the need to get out of there.
"You really don't think you and a girl can take us three do you?"
"You'd be suprised." Ash replied, his eyes glacier ice green in hatred, then they changed to simple green...and very persuasive.
Ash pulled Vikki onto the next bus just as the doors were closing.
"How'd you do that?" She asked, taking a seat. They got away much easier than she had thought.
He sat next too her. "Vampires have strong telepathic abilities, we can persuade people to do things or send them to sleep...when did you learn to punch like that?"
She shrugged. "Something you have to learn when you're a 'vulnerable' dancer." She used her fingers as air quotes.
He smiled one of his disarming smiles, she looked into his eyes, they were a beautiful golden-hazel, signifying his amusement. "What?" He asked.
"Nothing." She smiled. "You're eyes are pretty." She stood up and climbed off the bus once it rolled to a stop. He was hot on her heels.
"So are yours." He said to himself, watching her retreating back as she disapeared into the dance studio. He made sure she went in and closed the door behind her before he made his way along the pavement and towards the gym at the end of the road.
After her audition, Vikki was about to enter her locker room when she heard someone hyperventilating, as she walked past a door, it was held slightly ajar so she walked slowly towards it to listen.
"She's a dancer here. Where is she?" The voice was male and gruff; she didn't recognise it...she peeked round the corner and saw the man standing there wearing a black leather jacket and he had long blood red hair...but before she could see anything else...
"Vikki?" She jumped and turned to face her dance teacher. "Come on, they're calling you back."
Ash climbed aboard the bus and took a seat, and it wasn't long before Vikki joined him. Storming straight past everyone and sitting at the back on her own, plugging in her earphones. The bus began to move. Ash got up, walked down the aisle and sat next to her. Pulling out her earphones.
"I don't need to look at you to know you're pissed off and confused about something." He said, his eyes blue with innocence.
She glared at him and stuck her earphones in again. He pulled them out. "I don't want to talk about it!" She snapped, putting her iPod away anyway.
"You didn't get it did you?" He reffered to the final ballet auditions. She sighed and shook her head. "There's always next year."
"No, there's not." She replied. "I said to my mother: 'I've tried out for four years and come third place every time, if I don't get it this year - I'll try something new.'"
"Well...what're you going to do?"
She shrugged. "Don't know yet. Mother want's me to decide on a Circle."
"Right." He nodded in understanding. "And why are you so worried?" She glanced at him. "That doesn't matter."
"Tell me...or I'll snoop for an answer." He meant buisness, his eyes were a crafty and persuasive hellebore green.
She broke the eye contact and shook her head. "Don't you do that to me Ash Redfern, I know where you live and I know your sisters."
"Oh no, I'm shaking." He rolled his eyes.
He frowned, Vikki felt...frightened?
The bus rolled to a stop, he grabbed her hooded wrist and pulled her off the bus.
"Vikki. Something happened...tell me." His eyes were a blue-violet, showing his concern.
"No. I don't think..." She trailed off and frowned in confusion. The black leather jacket of the man she saw earlier was standing across the road, watching from them in the trees, his hair could not be seen... "Hey!" She called over to him, he turned on his heel and began running.
"Who's that?" Ash growled, his eyes black, showing he was dangerous.
"I saw him earlier." She looked at him. "In Mandy's lockeroom." Ash felt that same feeling from Vikki again...for some reason she was frightened, and he wanted to know why. "Forget it. It was probobly nothing." She crossed her arms and pulled her hood up before begining the journey along the pavement towards home.
A thought struck him and his eyes changed to a golden-hazel. "I thought of a way you can pay me back."
"The first one? Or all of them?" She failed to stop walking, he jogged to catch up with her.
"Just one."
"And that is?" 'If it's dirty then...no.' Ash chuckled at her thought.
"I want your number." He shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"My mobile number?"
He rolled his amusement filled eyes, "no, your house number. Yes, your mobile number."
"Fine." She pulled out her Blackberry.
After what'd happened the other night, Ash walked Vikki to the door.
"Jade should be inside." He said.
She gave him a thumbs up as she jogged up the stairs. Feeling inside her pockets for her keys she sighed. "I must've dropped them somewhere." Not thinking very much of it, she looked around for any humans before creating a key from blue magic.
"Witches can do that?" Ash asked.
"I can. But only for a few seconds." She opened the door before dropping the key on the floor, it exploded into a small aqua cloud of sapphire coloured dust.
"I know where to come if I need a key." His eyes were still on the blue dust. "See you on the bus tomorrow."
"No, you won't."
"Why not?"
"I have no need getting the bus anymore. I don't need to go to the Studio." She went inside and shut the door as Ash walked down the hill and across the road towards home.
Vikki met Jade upstairs in the lounge.
"How did the audition go?"
"I didn't get through."
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"
Vikki shrugged. "I doesn't matter...well, I would've liked to be in the production but hey, karma I guess."
"Why karma? What did you do?"
"Trying to do too many things at once. Dance; Job; werewolf; Ash's old buddies; perv's on busses...the usual."
"What do you mean 'Ash's old buddies'?"
"Had a run in. I didn't know your brother was a strong telepath."
"Yeah, Rowan, Kestrel and I aren't that strong but...almost everyone knows Ash is too bad for his own good. That's what our Great Aunt Opal keeps saying."
"He wasn't that bad today."
Jade was stunned. "You're growing soft on him aren't you."
"No! Of course not!" Even the witch couldn't hide her slight blush.
"Yeah right." Jade smiled warmly. "He's growing soft on you. He was really worried yesturday, I swear he checks out this connection of yours regularly."
"Great." Vikki rolled her eyes. "He can't hear what we're talking about now can he?"
"I don't think so. I think it's just feelings...he'll know what you're thinking sometimes."
"I know that part, I just wanted to make sure." She went quiet.
"Something's troubling you." Jade stated. "I know I'm not Rowan but...you can tell me, if you want."
"I saw something I don't think I should have seen."
"Where? At the Studio?"
Vikki nodded. "It was after my audition..." She trailed off when Jade looked towards the lounge door. "What is it?" She whispered.
"Is your mum coming home today?"
"She went to see Granny Harman...she wouldn't be back today, especially at night."
"It's a key."
Vikki's hand met her mouth, "I lost mine today, I had to make one to get back in." Both girls stood up, tiptoed across the room and leant over the banister to look downstairs. A shadow of a savage animal appeared on the wall.
"That's the werewolf." Jade whispered, clutching onto Vikki. "Let's get out of here!"
They ran as quietly as they could into Vikki's bedroom and onto the garage roof. "Jade...go and get Rowan and Kestrel...and Ash."
"Where are you going?" The young vampire exclaimed.
"To get my phone!"
"It's not worth it!"
"It is if whoever it is contacts any of the Harmans!"
"I'll get it! I'm faster - you get help!"
"No! Ash'll kill me if I let you go in there alone!"
"Same with me if I let you!"
"Jade. Go." Vikki headed back in through the window. Jade had no option but to run to her house and alert the rest of the Redferns.
Vikki made it into the lounge and...whoever the savage beast was...was in their human form, but this time, he had a hood pulled up over his head.
"Oh my God...it's you?" She saw the leather jacket.
"Suprised?"
"Actually I am...how'd you get my keys?" Vikki glanced at her phone next to her on the table. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Me?-" He ignored the 'keys' question.
"-I know you're a werewolf...but who are you..." She trailed off when the man in the black leather jacket pointed behind her, she turned around slowly, coming face-to-face with a second person. "There's two of you?"
"Yeah." The second voice was also male. "I'm the werewolf."
"To answer your second question..." The man got to his feet. "We're here for you."
"Why? Are you going to kill me?"
"It depends." The werewolf replied.
"On?"
"Wether or not you're going to be a good girl or not." The man smirked, Vikki saw a ring on his finger and obscure design of a black iris was on it. He was a Lamia vampire.
Jade was running home when she bumped into Ash, he'd felt Vikki's feeling's of being frightened, confused and when she began to panic.
"What's happening?" He asked.
"The werewolf's in there - go help her! I'll get Rowan and Kestrel!"
Ash disappeared towards Vikki's house and jumped onto of the garage. (A silent entry would be more effective than kicking down the front door). He climbed through her bedroom window before walking silently across the landing. He could hear them. In the lounge. There were three voices. All of which...he recognised, but didn't know where from.
"How're the Redferns?" The vampire asked.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Didn't we say we weren't going to hurt you unless you were co-operative?" The werewolf grasped her by the throat and lifted her off the floor.
"Jackson, put her down." The vampire commanded. 'Jackson?' Ash thought.
'Vikki, it's Ash...ask them why they're after you.' Sending her a mind link, Ash felt her become panicked and shocked when it reached her. 'Calm down, otherwise they'll know I'm here.' She then felt relieved.
"What do you want from me?" She asked.
"Sit." Jackson commanded, she obeyed the command and seated herself in the brown leather armchair. Next to her phone. She pocketed it.
"Don't be so harsh Jackson. We don't want her to run and end up like the others." The vampire looked down at Vikki. "Your dancer friends are dead by the way."
"I gathered that when they went missing." She replied, clenching her fists.
"Anyway. News broke out that there's a wildpower in this town...more specifically...from the dance studio."
"And you're after me because?" She felt her heart begin to pound in her chest, and was afraid they'd hear it.
"You were next on the list to check. And...you're a Harman, so we don't need to kill you afterwards for knowing about the Night World...unless we think otherwise." Jackson smiled, revealling inch long yellow fangs. "I know you're there Ash. You can come out."
When he didn't, Vikki wondered what he was doing and where he was. "Jackson. Go look, I'll keep the witch busy."
"Who are you?" Vikki asked. "I've seen you before, multiple times...even at the dance studio, I recognise your jacket...who are you?"
"Do you really want to know? Especially being such good friends with my family?" A lock of blood red hair fell out from his hood.
It wasn't until Jade, Rowan and Kestrel crossed the road and entered Vikki's house that they realised Ash wasn't the only vampire inside.
"Is that...who I think it is?" Rowan asked.
"We better hope not." Kestrel stated the obvious. "He's evil, we don't want Vikki teaming up with him."
"Is it just me or is it too quiet in here?" Jade asked. The whimper of a werewolf caught their attention, it was coming from outside. In the woods.
"I'll go. You two stay and help Vikki." Kestrel suggested.
The hood came off and the mass of blood red hair cascaded onto the Lamia's shoulders.
"When I ask about my family...I'm genuinly asking how they are-"
"-Ask us yourself, Uncle." Rowan said from behind the man.
"My dear Rowan - and Jade, my haven't you grown up fast." Hunter smiled and held out his arms in a warm embrace towards the girls. They walked straight past him and towards Vikki, flanking the witch's sides.
"Why're you after her?" Jade asked.
"My dear Jade, you're too young for this, I'm sure Rowan would understand..."
"I'm not a child!" She snapped in frustration. 'Rowan, take Vikki to our house, I'll keep Uncle busy.' "I'm all grown up now."
"Hold it right there." Hunter held up his hand to Rowan and Vikki who'd began to sneak away. "I still need to test your powers, Victoria."
"Why?" Kestrel and Ash appeared.
"Where's Jackson?" Hunter asked.
"Oh you know..." Ash shrugged. "Dead."
"I thought he was your friend, Ash." The blonde haired cat shrugged again. "Are my own family going to turn their backs on me to just defend a little witch?"
"Umm...yeah? What does it look like?" Jade said in a 'no-duh' tone.
"Jade..." Rowan sighed.
"I'm suprised at you four...especially my nephew. I thought you were the badest vampire around, surely you'd want to be my apprentice?"
Ash was silent. After a few seconds he walked towards Hunter and said: "I'd rather be staked." Coming from Ash? That was saying something.
"Have it your way then." Hunter shrugged and as quick as a flash, made a dash for wooden dagger in his boot.
"No!" The four girls screamed, a small blue flash appeared in either of Vikki's hands. Hunter paused. Ash hadn't stirred (either that or he just quickly pulled himself together) it seemed as though he hadn't even been fased by it. "It is you." Hunter turned to look at Vikki.
"What?" She had no time to react as he came at her, suddenly, the Redfern sisters were standing infront of her, Ash infront of them.
"Huh." Hunter couldn't think of a plan. Then he sped to the bottom of the stairs. "I'll be back-"
"-Heard it all before." Ash called back.
Everyone turned to Vikki. "You're a wildpower?" Kestrel asked.
"This is so cool!" Jade stated. "I'll launch a stake at Ash and you've got to defend-"
"-Jade!" Vikki protested. "You're not going to launch a stake at anyone...not in my house anyway..."
Ash's eyes changed from an innocent blue colour to golden-hazel in amusement. "So you're a wildpower...you know what this means don't you-"
"-The mystery of the birthmark is solved?" Vikki cut in.
"Err...actually I'd forgotten about that, but, no. It means whatever Circle you choose, will have an impact on the whole world...humans included."
"Jeeze, pressure much." Vikki rolled her eyes.
Ash shrugged. "No pressure, just...a huge amount of responsibility."
The phone rang, Jade and Vikki screamed. Vikki stared at the phone for a few seconds, everyone was silent.
"Aren't you going to get that?" Ash seated himself on the sofa.
Vikki cleared her throat and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
Rowan giggled silently. "Phone voice." She opened her mouth in shock when her best friend shot her the middle finger in response.
"What? Really?...Okay...yes! Of course!..Thank you so much!" She hung the phone back on the hook and lunged for Rowan - knocking the lamia vampire to the floor.
"I'm back in the game! Oh Yeah! Say hello to at least second place for the Swan Princess! I got another chance tomorrow!"
"Wow! Congratulations!" The Redfern sisters chorused.
"Congrats." Ash said, his eyes shone violet conveying he was suspicious. 'Looks like I will see you on the bus tomorrow.' Ash sent a mind link to Vikki.
'Well, I'm warning you now...you're in for a whole lot of grumpiness if you annoy me.'
'So I'll just be my charming self then?' His eyes flashed golden-hazel in amusement. Vikki rolled her cerulean eyes at his sarcasm.
(A/N: Special Thanks:
Book . Sessed - The only reason I write them in advance is so, if I get busy or something and don't have enough time to write the long chapters, I can just do a quick post, it's really just to keep my lovely reviewers patient lol xD Yes, the creepy werewolf does need a new hobby, I couldn't agree with you more there! I'll update every Monday...until I run out of chapter of course! Thanks for the review and also thank you for suggesting this story to other readers, my heart's filled with joy! :) x
No Flames please :) Please Review ^^ xx)