Chapter 6: Family Feuds Combine

Astella's POV

I grabbed the knife from under my pillow and gripped it tightly. I threw the curtain to the side and to my surprise, it was my brother. I let out a sigh of relief and slid it open, "What in the actual fuck are you doing James?"

"Sorry, but you have got to come see this," the look on his face was of concern and fear. I knew he wasn't messing around.

I jumped out of my bed and ran down the hall, stumbling to put my shoes on. I grabbed my bow and arrows that were hanging next to the door and ran out, making sure to close the door behind me. James met me out front and he began to lead me towards the creek. We hunched down in a secretive fashion and began to slow our walk, becoming quieter. I had no idea what he was getting us into but it must have been bad to try and involve me.

Down the hill, near the creek, were a pack of werewolves. They were gathered around a bonfire, most were drinking and talking but some of them were quiet, staring at the fire. I shot James a questioning look, he hushed me and pointed back down at them. Just when I thought things were normal, I see three large men shoving another man towards the fire. One man, quieted everyone and began to speak loudly, "Marcell and his army of vampires have been on a rampage making new recruites. Here is one right here!" The crowd hollered angrily, throwing beer bottles and whatever they could find towards the man. "This little vampire right here decided to sneak around our territory and kill Jude! He was also planting bombs around our campgrounds. Now, what should we do to punish this coward?"

The man that was speaking was average in height but stocky, he had shaggy, dark hair and his whole demeanor screamed alpha. His pack began to scream and shout, after a moment they quieted down and he spoke again, staring at the man that supposedly tried to destroy them and their homes. "I think this act is only punishable by death." Everyone cheered in agreement. The man began to beg and plead to let him go, his promises of never returning and leaving in peace were unheard by the hoard of wolves. They dragged him to a tree and started tying him up.

James tapped my shoulder and whispered into my ear, "We have to save him." I pulled away, astonished at this proposal.

"Coming from a man that hates vampires and wants nothing but the death of them all, you want to save him?"

"Listen, yes, I hate vampires. I despise them with a passion, but that's not just any vampire. That's Collin." James looked back towards him and had a sad look on his face. "He was one of my best friends when we were younger, he was taken away after his sixteenth birthday and I never saw him again. All I knew was that he went to New Orleans and his family died."

I rolled my eyes being completely unsympathetic and let out a huff. "Fine, I'll help you. But if the wolves start to rampage on us, I'm out. I'm running for dear life and you better do the same." James nodded and we started to move in a little closer, trying to be as silent as possible.

I pulled my arrow back and aimed for the ropes that held his arms to his side and his back against the tree. Bulls eye. The ropes fell to the ground and he looked around confused, not knowing what was going on. Before it was too late, he ran. The whole pack began to shout and scream, and not too long after that, they began running in different directions. James and I took off running towards our cabin, and fortunately we made it all the way back home without anyone seeing us. We shut the door and gasped for air. "I haven't run like that in years," chuckled James.

I let out a small giggle as well, "Me neither." I got serious and looked James dead in the eye, "Don't ask me to save another vampire again, regardless of if its your friend or not." His eyes lowered to slits as if he had something to say but he held back. James stood up and began to tend to the fire. I grabbed us each a glass of water and sat next to him on the floor. We stared into the fire and lost ourselves in random thoughts. I laid my head on his shoulder and whispered, "I'm sorry. I know you don't think too highly of me right now, I just want you to know that I truly am sorry for everything."

James sighed deeply, "I know. It's not your fault. It was Marcel's fault."

His name made my heart fall right out of my chest. I hadn't spoken that name in years, regardless of how many times I hear people say his name, it still had the same affect. I thought he was a good man, I thought he was going to be the love of my life; I was willing to give him my all. Unfortunately, for my family and me, I was wrong. He destroyed everything I ever loved when I told him I no longer wanted to be with him. I had just found out what legacy was about to be passed down to me and I was going through a lot, he didn't understand and I didn't feel like explaining.

I gave him the cold shoulder for months. He reached out in numerous different ways and never did I send a response. I could tell Marcel was becoming agitated with the heartbreak and I wanted to apologize for everything, I just never knew the words to say. He found a witch to do a locator spell on me but what also followed was a premonition of me becoming an extremely powerful vampire hunter and killing him. Marcel went on a giant power trip and decided to kill my family and me. Fortunately, my sister, brother and I got away. The rest of the family died trying to protect us. James and I took Emily and hid in werewolf territory, we waited for them to stop looking for us and went back home to find a bloody disaster. He thought we were dead. That was another reason that I became good friends with the witches, because I didn't want Marcel finding out about me, they would cloak me with a spell so he couldn't find me when I was in town. I hadn't seen him in years and I didn't want to see him ever again.

We never had any issues with vampires after that, the werewolves took care of most of them if they made their way into the forest. James, Emily and I decided to remain acquaintances with all parties to an extent, to ensure that we would be protected.

I didn't respond to my brother, I stood up and walked to my bedroom. This time I was ready to fall asleep and let the darkness consume me. I didn't want to dream tonight, I feared for what would become of it.

"You won't understand Marcel, please just understand what I am going through, know that I want to be with you and I want us to work out but I can't handle all of this all at once."

Marcel caressed my cheek and had a deep frown upon his face, he looked as though he was on the verge of tears. "I won't let you go." His tone was dark and demanding. It surprised me, his once sad face turned angry.

"Marcel! Let me go! Get away from me." I broke free from his grasp and began to ran as fast as I could. The ground beneath my feet turned to sand and I began to sink with every step that I tried to take until I was waist deep. Marcel laughed and squatted down next to me.

"I told you, I won't let you go. I know you, I know your family. I know what you are going to become and I won't let you destroy me. This is my empire and I am the king." He stood with arms wide open and looked at the sky. I began to weep, no matter how hard I tried to get away, I sank deeper and deeper until my face was almost covered. All I could see was Marcel standing over me, smiling.

Blood splattered on my face and I let out a blood curdling scream, Marcel began to gasp for air and my fear transformed to surprise. I looked down to find a hand through his chest, gripping his heart. The hand retracted through the hole it had created and Marcel fell to his knees. Before I could see anything else, I was fully emerged into the sand. My breathing was becoming labored and I could feel my heartbeat start to slow, and just as I thought I was going to drift into a dark abyss, someone pulled me out of the sand.

I coughed and greedily took deep breaths, "Thank you. Dear God, thank you."

"I'm not God but.. you're welcome." Spoke a familiar voice. On my hands and knees I turned my head and looked to my savior.

It was Elijah, he was wiping his hands and he had a smile on his face. He placed the handkerchief back in his pocket and helped me up slowly. I was speechless. I didn't know what to say or what to do. He put a hand on my cheek, just as Marcel did but he began to lean in for what seemed like a kiss.

Still shell shocked at what had happened, I let him pull me closer and just before our lips met. He screamed in my face. "WAKE UP STELLA! WAKE UP!"

I shot out of bed in a panic. "What?! What's going on?!" James's face was terrified and that sent a shock through my body. I was awake now. I grabbed my knife and followed James towards the front door and in the door way stood a man, a man that was holding Emily by the throat.

He was dressed in casual attire, hair was a light brown, almost blonde. His stature was not impressive but it was obvious, due to his strength, that he was a vampire. He lifted Emily off her feet and she was struggling to get a breath in, her feet kicking to try and break free.

"Ahhh, you must be Astella." Spoke the man with a classy but familiar accent. "I hate to start introductions this way, but I need your assistance."

"What happened to chivalry? You could have just asked nicely." I said as I reached for my bow on the wall.

"I don't think so," the man smiled and tightened his grip around Emily's throat. I threw my hands up in surrender and backed away from the weapon.

"What do you want with me?" I asked. "And what does my sister have to do with it?"

"Your sister has absolutely no part in this, I'm just using her as leverage. Now, invite me in." He demanded. Emily tried to shake her head as he squeezed the life out of her and James was shaking his head in my peripherals.

"Please, come in." I whispered through clenched teeth. He stepped through the doorway slowly and the smile on his face grew wider. He threw Emily across the room, onto the couch and made it slide into the wall. James ran to her, I made sure to keep my eyes on the stranger that now had access to my house and the last of my family. "What do you want?"

"Funny you ask that," he let out a fake chuckle. "You."

"What do you want with me?" I was confused, we all were confused. He was walking around our living room, inspecting everything in the area. I countered his walk in a protective stance, making sure he kept his distance from my family.

"We can get into that later but, as of right now, you have to make a decision. You either come with me peacefully or I kill your family and take you. Your choice." He stood in front of me, a blank expression on his face, and stared into my eyes.

Without hesitation I said, "Let's go then."

Emily and James roared in protest, "Enough!" I yelled, I looked at them with pleading eyes. "I will not put you in danger! This is not up for discussion." Emily ran across the room and threw her arms around me. I embraced her back with a sad smile on my face.

"I can't lose you. Please, come back home." She whispered.

James's face was coated with anger; he had no words to say. He sat on the couch, arms folded across his chest. "I will do my best to make it back as soon as possible." I pried Emily's arms from around my torso and before anyone could do anything. The stranger took me and ran.