Shinedown – Bully

30 Seconds to Mars - Depuis Le Debut

Chapter 6

Attack on Shadow Falls

Two Hours Later

"Seriously guys, where are we going?"

Wiggling as Dimitri dragged me by one arm while Jeremy held fast to the other. After the whole revealing truth that in werewolf form, my fur was white as snow and that I was some kind of alpha, everyone seemed to have been in a festive mood. Apparently, a White Werewolves was unheard of and 'my' arrival meant great things for the Lycanthropy community. But nervously, I'd requested that Vlad and the other Weres keep my turning a secret.

I didn't want Mario getting wind of his discovery just yet... Or to anyone back in Texas.

So while everyone was running across the Cheile Nerei – Beușnița, preparing for tonight's festivities, I groaned as both males continued tugging me across a garden, spring flowers blooming despite it being fall towards Seika and Hayate who were smirking in my direction.

"Good.,. You have brought her."

"Oh god... Oh God... Please tell me I'm not being forced to train today?" Instead of the words being thought, they just tumbled from my lips. Causing Seika to laugh and shake her head while smiling widely. "No, he five of us will be taking a weeklong vacation to Japan. I think you could use a girl's day Kylie. Plus, I would like for you to meet a shifter friend of mines."

Perking up at the mention of shifting, my face brightens, and my posture straightens. Out of all the Supernatural types, shifter; still, was the one species I hadn't gotten around to changing into. After having seen some of the things Perry could do, I'd grown excited but nervous for my first shift. Of course, my grandfather and aunt had said they wanted a teacher to teach me after their failed attempts. So after weeks of waiting, I was finally going to meet someone who could tell me if I would be able to shift in one particular animal or more, like a regular shifter.

Pressing my hands together and shifting from foot to foot, I could feel the makings of a butt wiggle coming on; one that vaguely reminded me of Miranda, was my gaze met Seika.

"When does do we leave?" Watching bubbles of laughter spill from her red painted lips again. "Now." She beckoned for Dimitri and Jeremy to come to her while Hayate slipped an arm around her waist. "I don't get it." Face scrunching up while Jeremy's lips curl into a smirk. "Teleportation!" He yelled and my jaw dropped.

Teleportation…

It was an ability that only the strongest of witches could use and Seika had been treating me to Teleport myself from one end of the castle to another. Then it kind of turned into a Game for us. Almost like hide and seek or tag. She would show me a picture of a place in Romania and teleport herself there. I could have to picture myself in the same location, lift my pinky and boom, I was there. At first, I was teleporting myself into random people's bathrooms in the area, even one time teleporting myself back to my old high school in Texas, which had left my scared to every travel that way again. But as I stood there while Seika mentions not bothering with packing a bag because we would shop at a friend's boutique after leaving a Beauty salon, I became slightly fearful of screwing up the teleportation and ended up in the bottom of the sea.

"Kylie.. I have faith in your abilities."

She held out a slip of paper and as I stepped forward to retrieve it, I saw that it was actually a picture of her and Hayate standing outside of a magnificent temple I've seen pictures of before. "This is your home." It wasn't so much of a question then it was an observation. Seika had spoken of her home in Tokyo many times. How she and those of her coven danced on the night of the New Moon. The many parties they would have and the Kimono's she wore.

Damnit... I wanted a Kimono too.

Nodding my head, my eyes lift over to where the four of them had gathered around Seika, her hand raised above their heads "I will be right behind you all." I said with a smirk instead of a smile. Jeremy laughed and Dimitri winked as my eyes closed, my pinky rose and I envisioned myself just as Dim's voiced faintly reached my ears as the air sizzled with them leaving. "Don't try to sneak off to that camp, chicka."

Brows pitched, the air around me grew thick as my pinky swayed from left to right, trying my best to picture the temple I was to meet the others at, but all I could see was the trail that led up to the dining hall and hear the cascading sound of the waterfall. With a light breeze causing my short hair to tickle my ears, one eye slowly drifted open and I swore out loud as water soaked into my sneaks, then my socks.

"DAMNIT DIMITRI!"

Voice bouncing off familiar surrounding as I take it in.

I had returned to Shadows Camp, well school now. All because Dimitri had placed the idea into my right before I was able to teleport. Pressing the picture against my forehead and yawning, I kicked at the water, frustrated with myself, pissed off at Dimitri and …

" Oh my.. K.. Kylie."

Swearing mentally as the gasping voice slice through my thoughts, I slowly turned towards the mouth of the cave that was hidden behind the waterfall. Even with it being as dark as it was, I could still see two figures standing just outside the entrance of the cave…

Burnett; with a deer caught in headlights expression, and Holiday; with a hand thrown over her mouth, gazed back at me with a frantic expression.

It pained me to see her all fragile as the hand hanging loosely by her side, rose and extended towards me as if reaching out for me to take her hand. I want to, I really did, but I promised I would stay away for her, for them all. Without smiling or showing a flicker of emotions over my face, I close my eyes and willed myself to Japan where the others were sure to be awaiting my arrival.

"Goodbye Holiday."

I whispered just as the air sizzled and I teleported.

…

Moments later.

"Burnett… did you just see…?"

Holiday's voice came out in a hoarse whisper. It was only an hour ago when they both were standing on the edge of the bonfire while the wolves shifted one by one. Disappearing into the words before an overpowering need to visit the falls overtook her.

Was this the reason why the falls had call to her? So she could see Kylie's ghost? Or was it a warning that Kylie was in danger? However, remembering the ghost face, Holiday wasn't sure if it was Kylie or not, seeing how the ghost hair was cut short in a pixie style. With brows pinched in worry, Holiday took her braided hair into one hand, twisting it in a knot while the shift in Burnett's posture caused her to look up at him. "What wrong?" She asked after witnessing the narrowing of his eyes. "Someone just crossed the boundary of the camp…" He paused before a deep growl vibrates up from his throat. "We need to get back to the Dining Hall. Now!" Without another world, Burnett lifted Holiday onto his back, ignoring her squeals of protest and took off in the direction of the hall.

Groaning, I had to remind myself how quick Burnett could move, because one instant, I was closing my eyes, as to not get motion sickness, then the next, the smell of smoke was filling my nose. Eyes snapping open the moment Burnett stops, I couldn't help but gasp at the scene that lay before me.

Campers were trying to put out a fire that had started to consume the right side of the Dining Hall while others, were lying collapsed on the ground and against the trees, bleeding or unconscious. There was a half circle formed and the closer Burnet and I got to it, did I notice the shouts or growling a few campers were doing at five figures standing amidst the chaos around them.

"Like rodents scattering." One hooded figure hissed while the others laughed.

Being sat down on my feet, Burnett pushed me protectively behind him; as if to shield me from harm, however, seeing as this was my camp and my campers, I stepped from behind him, arms folded over my chest while a look of defiance crossed my face.

Even if on the inside I was fearful.

"This is private grounds. You have no business here." Voice rose to be heard over the disarray their actions have brought. I could feel everyone who had either been awakened by the disturbance or already milling about in the late hours shifting to stand near me. This was the people at Shadow Falls. We were a family no matter what species we came from.

"Ah… You must be the leader."

A smooth as silk voice drawled out. Stepping forward clad in black clothing; that resembled leather was a tall pale figure; vampire from what I could gather, with snow white hair and eyes glowing red in the night.

"And what of it?" Sighing. It was just like Burnett to step up and take charge.

Men…

With a snort, the male turned a furious gaze onto Burnett, just as the sky overhead began to rumble. "Wasn't speaking to you traitor." Was all there was said to Burnett before his gaze turned back towards me. A smirk curled onto his lips.

"We were sent here with a proposition from our leader." Proposition? What kind? But even as I asked the question mentally, I knew the answer spoken wouldn't be good. "Who is this leader you speak of?" I questioned just as another voice, one familiar and filled with anger and hatred spoke up. "Do you work for Mario Esparza?" Derek asked the one question few of us that truly knew what was happening wanted to know. "Oh, so you have heard of Lord Mario?" The male grunted and his smile became more sinister. He was the man who had killed Ellie and almost Derek and had been after Kylie since the night at the Wild Life Preserve. Most didn't know him by name but gazing around at the campers, spotting Della, Miranda, Perry, Helen, and Jonathan off to the side, they all knew the vampire by name and remember all he had done.

Gazing around, the white-haired Blood Brother seemed to be searching for someone and after a moment, sighed. "It seems we are missing one person at this party?" His head tilted to the side, sending sprays of light locks into his eyes.

Missing a person? Who could we be...? Then it hit me.

Kylie.

"I was hoping to meet Kylie Ga...len." His pink tongue darted from his mouth and ran over his lips like a prey ready to devour its meal. "She's not here. Kylie is gone and won't be returning. So if you're here for her, you should just leave." These words came from a female werewolf who had started at the camp at the bringing of the school year. "This camp wants nothing to do with her."

"Speak for yourself bitch"

Shaking my head at Della, she would be the first to respond to something like that.

"What a shame that Miss. Galen isn't here. We were hoping to bring her to our masters after letting her watch you all die. I mean of course, " Came a voice of another masked figure, his face hidden behind the hood of his cloak. Growls seemed to pierce the night and all five figures laughed while the third continued to speak. "Hiding is for cowards and she must have known she could not help anyone when she is so close to death herself and that is why she is not here now."

"Y… you are wrong and nothing more than a bully!" Snapping my head in the direction of Miranda's voice. So rarely has she spoken out and it seemed she had come out of this enclosed bubble when returning to the camp this past summer and befriending Della and Kylie. "Kylie is a Protector! S…She's my friend and she's going to return as soon she figures out how to beat your sorry butt!" A few people around the camp were nodding their heads in agreement and just when I thought this whole thing would turn around, an older male with grayed hair tied back in a ponytail and stepped towards. The other four cloaked figures who were standing around him bowed as he took the position ahead of them.

"You say such things about Miss… Galen. But where is your Protector now?" Even if his face wore an expressionless mask, his words seemed to cause the air to drop a few degrees. "Moreover, Kylie Galen most likely by now has been killed by my colleague."

With a strangled bellow, Della bared her fangs and sprung forward, I could see Burnett running to stop her, along with a few of the wolves that had resurfaced from the forest. However, it was too late. A bolt of lightning came crashing from out of nowhere and struck the ground, throwing Della and the campers around her twenty feet backward. With a cry, I ran over and fell to my knees beside a whimper Miranda and Della as a voice drifted from over my shoulder.

"How many times have the Vampires thought they were better than the Werewolves and vice versa? The Witches more powerful than the Fae and everyone beneath the other, h'm?" The older man said just as the girls began to stir with a whimper of pain. "Close the camp now and you all can return home to your family's where you will have peace of mines for the time being or stay and die an early death."

He spoke the words as if reciting a tragic love story by Shakespeare.

"My aids here will be returning in fours day to retrieve your answer." Without another word, they all just simply disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

"Holiday?"

Shifting my gaze from the spot where the five cloaked figures were just standing towards Miranda who was now propped up against Perry. I could see the question in her eyes and feel the uncertainty and fear rolling off her in waves.

Was I going to close down the camp?

That was a question I couldn't answer. If I were to close it down then it meant many of the Vampires and Werewolves would fall into gangs, that wasn't counting the ones that would turn in the next year. And if I were to go with my gut and continue on with the school opened, that meant lives might be lost. But instead, Mirada asked.

"D…do you really think Kylie is…" her words were broken by her pulling her bottom lip into my mouth and forcing back a sob. "Dead?"

Shifting my gaze from Miranda up to the dark sky, my eyes drifted close as I asked the Death Angels for Guidance or someone that could help, because, at that moment, I was losing faith. Sense of calm seemed to wash over me, just as Kylie's smiling face filled my mind.

"Please Kylie wherever you are. Be alive and well."

I whispered the words more in a prayer.

…

Several hours later.

Hayden had been pacing the length of his cabin since the incident near the dining hall. He'd heard first hand of the terror the Blood Brothers could cause, the lifeless bodies laid limply in their wake and the families destroyed. But after seeing personally the chaos they'd caused that night at the camp, it left Hayden shaken and rethinking his agreement with Kylie and her grandfather about not letting Holiday and Burnett know where location in Romania. However, if giving Kylie Galen's whereabouts would help, it would also give him not having to pretend any longer. He could live openly as a Chameleon.

Groaning, Hayden ran a hand carelessly over his head, frustrated at the turn of events just as the sound of his door crashing echoed off the walls and shook the cabin.

"Holy hell!"

Jumping backward, I stared at the broad, tall form of Burnett James who was gazing at me through narrowed red glowing eyes.

"You're been hiding things Yates." Burnett stood, brushing dust off his shirt. Brow lifting and head tilting slightly to the right, my gaze hardens at the tall, wide FRU agent. Hiding something? Did he… did he know what I really was? "You know where Kylie is." So… I amused. This is about Kylie.

Folding my arms over my chest, I begin to have a mental debate on how much I should say. Should I just tell him that I did know where Kylie was? Wasn't I moments away from finding Mr. James and telling him anyways? "A student heard you mention Kylie's name a few days ago. They said you were on a Video Call in your Class Room. I can get a Computer Tech out here to pull up every record on your computer, or you can tell me what Mario wants with Kylie."

Brows pinched, I took a step back was he strides forward. Did he really think I was…?

Releasing a growl, arms falling limply to my side and instead of moving backward, I step forward to meet the stride of Burnett. "I wasn't sent by Mario to kill Kylie." Wasn't I going to tell him anyway? I knew I promised I wouldn't, but these people cared about Kylie. I saw those multiple times and maybe, the FRU wasn't as bad, well, not all of them. Drawing in a breath, I collected my thoughts before diving head in. "Malcolm Summers sent me here to watch over his granddaughter The Heir to his legacy and so much more. Yes, at first I couldn't, wouldn't trust any of you at this camp." Lifting a hand to stop him from speaking before I had a chance to finish. "However, I have seen many of you risk your lives for someone who wasn't one of your species. The FRU have done so much to Chameleons," Cocking a smirk at the slight widen of his eyes. "Yes, I am like Kylie and her grandfather and aunt. There are not many of us.. Not on the side of good anyways." Shaking my head while dispelling a sigh.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have…" "No, you couldn't. You work for the FRU and even with Kylie saying I could trust you, our kind has a long dark history with them that can't be erased overnight."

Sighing once more, I ran a hand down the length of my face, head slightly tilting, checking to be sure no one was outside listening.

" Kylie… She could have stayed in contact with you all after she left and the true reason for her going to Romania is that…" Pausing to swallow hard, I'd already spoken to Malcolm about me telling Burnett their whereabouts, more because of the situation here, but also because Kylie couldn't hide from them forever. Surprisingly, he'd agreed and said he would let Vladimir know they will be receiving a guest. Knowing Burnett, he would be hopping on the first plane once I'd said what was needed to be said.

"She needed to leave for herself. To figure out what it means to be a Chameleon and a Protector. You all, you couldn't teach her everything, which is why she went to live with her grandfather and a Werewolf pack in Cheile Nerei – Beușnița." Watching as the wheels in his head begins to turn, Each word, vowel and syllable clicking into place until his eyes widen in a way I've never seen. "Vladimir Brâncoveanu is the leader of the pack there." Nodding my head slowly. "Kylie has been living with werewolves." It wasn't so much as a question then an observation. But I nodded my head anyway. Gradually, his broaden eyes soften in a way I've seen only when he looks at Holiday and his gaze soon finds me staring at him. "Cheile Nerei – Beușnița is where one of Europe's greatest werewolf packs is located. Vladimir; from what I've heard, has done a lot for the community and is one the ones who wants to see change within the species. He is the Leader of the European Lycanthropes and sits on the Were Council."

"Yes. Both he and Malcolm Summers have been friends for many years, mostly after the disappearance of his wife Heidi. It was of the rumors spread around by your campers, to their parents, but mostly the Werewolves, that Vladimir learned of Kylie and Malcolm his granddaughter. Kylie could not continue her training here. However, with recent events, I felt it was time I told you where she was."

For a moment, there was nothing but silence between us both, one that wasn't stifling, but spoke of two men deep in thought. I knew that I'd done the right thing about telling Burnett about Kylie. I'd promised her I would look out for them while she was away; however, I also knew she wasn't planning on returning. Goodbyes were always the hardest. They left you feeling empty and alone when they were said between those who were like family. At the time, I'd agreed with Kylie about her staying away, but after that transpired today, I knew that Shadow Falls needed Kylie. Her family here needed her more than anything, if not, there would be many campers returning home, joining gangs; the Blood Brothers who associated themselves with Mario and his group, or dead and from the look in Holiday Brandon eyes, she was seconds away from closing down the camp. Drawing in a breath, I knew from already speaking to Malcolm, Kylie was in Japan with one of her tutors, so her grandfather would be calling her back any moment. "There will be a storm passing over Romania within the next day, but if we leave tomorrow evening, we should be able to miss the worst of it and arrive, speak to Kylie then return before the Blood Brothers do."

""I" should leave tomorrow evening." He voices didn't hold the edge it normally did. Just… hope? Stepping forward, my head shook fiercely as I shot the idea down. " I told Malcolm I may be arriving with you when I called to let him know I would be speaking to you. He excepts be to arrive with you. Besides, I would greatly like to see my younger brother."

For a moment, Burnett seemed to consider my words, but the next set of words to leave his lips told me he wasn't budging, yet, they shocked me. "I don't know you all that well." He said as he paused at the door, his head craning around to gaze at me from over his shoulder. "But for some reason, Kylie trust you, so with that, I am placing my trust in you for now, as well. Watch over the camp and if anyone ask why I came to speak to you, just tell them it was to help with the camp while I am away on FRU business."

And with that, Burnett left me gazing at his back as he made a swift retreat. Most likely, he would stop by the office to let Holiday know he was stepping away for a few days to handle "FRU" business. She would become even more worried seeing as the camp was just attacked and Burnett would try to reassure her that everything was fine.

Standing there, I hoped that Burnett would be able to get to Kylie and hopefully bring her back in time. If not, then the Shadow Falls and everyone here would be lost for good.

I hope everyone has a good Holiday this week and I'm going to try and post another chapter before the year ends. Check out the poll on my Profile page!