Okay, so after this one, I will try and make the chapters longer as requested. :) And hopefully I'll get a lot of writing done during Fall Break that's coming up! :D Can't wait! Thanks everyone for the reviews! 3

Chapter 8

Eve's shrieks split the air as the world fell into chaos around Claire. She caught a glimpse of Michael's face—fangs extended and blue eyes turned red—before everything was obscured by various shades of shiny fur.

Shane grabbed her arm and tugged her to the wall. He pushed her behind the couch and ducked down beside her. Vicious, inhuman snarls filled the air, making Claire want to cover her ears. Claire sheltered her head as a body appeared, flying over the sofa. The figure skidded to a halt and turned to look at her and Shane. Time seemed to pause as Claire stared, intrigued, at the being crouched in front of them.

Unnatural, silver eyes glared back at her, the lips beneath them curled into a sneer that revealed fangs as long as her fingers. Thick, black fur with a strange sheen rose along the thing's spine. Though its face looked human, there was very little human about it. Only parts of its appearance looked human. If anything, it looked like a cross between an early human and a wolf. Claire heard herself scream as the creature lunged at her, dirty, knife-sharp talons outstretched. Shane's arms crushed her closer to him as he shielded her with his body. Horror gripped her when she pictured the creature's claws being buried in Shane's back.

But nothing happened.

In fact, Shane had moved away from her to stare at the dog-like thing. When she peered around his shoulder, she understood why he was gawking. A tiny pixie figure was struggling with the dog-thing. Athena's fangs flashed white as she bared them in a snarl. Her black eyes were now entirely blacked out, casting the reflection of the creature. She rolled on top of his stomach, raking her hands down its flanks. Her fingers left long, red gouges on the thing's bare skin. He squealed in anger and grabbed Athena like he wanted to hug her. He seemed to be trying to smother her in his fur, but she ripped at the skin along its arms until it finally released her.

Athena looked like a demon as she straightened up, an insane smile on her lips as she looked down at the cringing dog-thing. A hiss came from her, and she poised to strike again. Then a roar sounded behind her. She twisted with lightning speed. The next thing Claire knew, a blond-furred dog-thing crumpled to the floor at Athena's feet, its neck at a very wrong angle.

Once more, Athena turned her crazed grin on the cowering creature she's been tussling with earlier. But Claire couldn't watch anymore. She closed her eyes and covered her ears, but she still heard the creature's mournful howl cutoff abruptly.

Claire stayed like that until she felt a big, warm hand shake her shoulder gently. She took her hands off her ears and peaked up to see Shane's brown eyes gazing down at her. "Hey, it's okay; they're gone," he assured her. He offered her a hand, and when she took it, he pulled her on her feet and into his arms. Claire felt her heartbeat slowing as she sank into the warmth and solidity of his body.

When she surface, she looked around to see that most everybody was okay. Only Michael had angry burns on his hands and arms, but they were already healing. Oliver was scrutinizing a cut along his forearm; it too was healing. Claire noticed Athena staring at Oliver with something vulnerable in her eyes, but it disappeared too quickly for Claire to identify it. "Is everyone all right?" she asked, glancing around. All of the older vampires seemed mostly unfazed, though Michael, Claire, Eve, and Shane all felt shaken.

"I thought you said we had twenty-one hours until they got here," growled Michael. So those were the Darklings, Claire thought to herself.

"We do. Those Darklings were rogues. They've broken from the pack. I didn't sense them because there were so few of them, and I've been concentrating on the main pack," Athena replied. She closed her eyes and touched her forefinger to space between them like she was thinking. "This ruins our plan. They're working in separate groups so we cannot be sure we'll get them all in one strike."

"Then what should we do?" Claire asked. Shane still had his arms wrapped around her and she was extremely reluctant to move from them, especially since she suddenly felt very tired. It was probably from shock.

Instead of answering Claire's question, Athena's head snapped up, her black eyes—now back to normal—wide and shiny. Claire heard her sniff the air softly as everyone became still and silent. Athena swiveled around to face the dining room. Without a sound, she drifted to the doorway. Peering around the doorframe, she jumped back, hissing like a snake. The rest of them hurried over. At first, Claire didn't see what Athena was hissing at, but then the reddish-coppery fur caught the light, drawing her gaze.

Trembling under the big dining room table was a Darkling. His silver eyes were wide in terror as he stared at them from between the maze of chairs. Athena zipped forward before anyone could react and grabbed him by the fur on his neck. She dragged him out from under the table, his claws raking the carpet and his voice rising in a shrill howl. "Wait." It was Eve. She was gazing at the creature with big, dark eyes. "Don't hurt him."

"What are you talking about? This creature will kill us all the first chance he gets," Oliver growled.

"If he wanted to hurt us, he'd have already done it!" Eve said, her voice very close to a shout. The Darkling was balled up and whimpering, his hands over his head as if he wanted to hide from them.

Athena looked from Eve to the Darkling. "Eve, I understand your compassion, but Ollie is right. These beings cannot help themselves when it comes to destroying our kind."

Eve took a determined step forward. "You said before that they were mindless. Well, he seems to have enough of a mind to fear for his life. Those others didn't care about their lives. Even though they were outnumbered, they still fought relentlessly. But he is afraid."

Suddenly, the Darkling made a sad groaning sound. It sounded as if…he said, "Please." Athena released her hold of his fur and backed away from him, black eyes wide in surprise. Myrnin walked toward the Darkling, gazing at him with fascination.

"It seems as if this one still retains some of his human self. He can still speak somewhat. They must not have finished his transformation," he said, bending down to get a good look at the creature. The Darkling yelped and scuttled backward into the wall.

Eve stepped toward him. Michael grabbed her arm, but she shook him off. "Eve, be careful," he said worriedly. She crept slowly toward the beast, her hand stretched out palm-down.

"I'm not going to hurt you," she muttered softly, kneeling in front of the Darkling. Gradually, his tremors began to fade, and he lowered his fingers from his face. Claire saw that his face had once probably been quite attractive, but was now spattered with ugly scars. Eve touched her hand to his shoulder carefully. Shane tensed up beside Claire, and she squeezed his hand.

The Darkling hesitantly placed a clawed hand in Eve's other outstretched one. She slowly stood up, pulling the Darkling with her. He stood on all fours—except the one in Eve's hand—and gazed at the rest of them nervously.

Patiently, Eve guided the Darkling into the den. Everyone followed in awe.

When he reached the living room, Shane plopped down onto the sofa, looking exhausted. Immediately, the Darkling hopped up beside him. Shane stared wide-eyed at the Darkling.

Just like a dog, the Darkling's tongue lolled out between his huge fangs as he looked at Shane. For the first time, Claire noticed he had a shaggy tail, and it was wagging enthusiastically. "I think he likes you," Claire giggled.

Shane opened his mouth to retort with something smart, but the Darkling leaned forward and rasped his tongue up Shane's cheek. Everybody—even the older vamps—couldn't help but laugh a little. Shane's open mouth turned into a huge, horrified grimace. Without moving, he gasped dramatically, "I feel so violated." Then he looked at the Darkling, glancing up and down as if he were sizing him up. The moment he looked down, he whipped his head in the opposite direction saying, "Okay, if he's staying he's going to have to wear some pants."